JOURNAL SPORTS
The shoe is on the other foot tonight as unbeaten Haughton visits one-loss Airline in a collision of neighborhood rivals who are perfect through three District 1-5A games.
In Justin Scogin’s five seasons as Airline’s coach, the Vikings have won two district titles, been runner-up another time, and have a 28-4 league record.
Haughton is out to its best start in 12 years. Coach Matthew Sewell’s senior-laden Bucs have stuck together and matured through two seasons in which they won only twice in district contests.
“We’re the hunter, and that’s the first time in a long time. We’ve been the hunted,” said Scogin. “They’re the hunted. They’ve earned it. They’re at the top of the mountain right now. I know what it’s like going into these games and everybody expects you to win. You have to really be on your A-game, whereas we can go out and have fun and get after it.”
Sewell, whose team has won eight straight going back to last season, plus a 21-7 jamboree triumph over Benton, relishes the opportunity.
“It’s been awesome getting here. I believe in our guys,” he said. “We have a good football team and they love each other, and they love Haughton and play together. It’s really exciting, to say the least.”
Haughton quarterback Taylor Weathersby embraces going to Airline’s M.D. Ray Stadium for the showdown.
“It’s a big game, going into a hostile environment, but Airline is probably my favorite place to play, other than here (in Haughton),” he said. “You can’t beat this, but that’s neck and neck.”
Evangel, the other 1-5A co-leader, will play without prolific quarterback Peyton “Pop” Houston for the first time in three seasons when the Eagles battle Byrd’s Yellow Jackets. Houston sustained a shoulder injury last week and his return to action is at least a week away, if not longer. Freshman Briggs Berlin will get his first start.
Elsewhere tonight, Class 2A’s No. 1-ranked team, Calvary, puts its perfect record on the line in New Orleans against one of the state’s powers, Class 4A’s No. 4, Archbishop Shaw. Both teams lost in state championship games last season.
With the sophomore combination of Brylan Washington and AJ Johnson each scoring twice, Huntington pulled a 28-21 upset Thursday night in District 1-5A, despite being outgained 401-251 by Captain Shreve.
A late-game rally made the difference. Washington scored twice in the final 3:36, on runs of 2 and 23 yards (with 90 seconds to go) and Huntington broke up a Maddox Parrott pass in the end zone on the final play to prevail.
The Gators (4-4 overall, 2-3 in 1-5A) weren’t able to get their running attack roaring against the Raiders (2-6, 2-2), who contained Shreve running back Gabe Lockett. After two straight 200-yard games, Lockett ran for 103 on 24 carries, scoring on a pair of short runs.
The Week 8 slate of high school football games involving Shreveport-Bossier teams:
THURSDAY’S SCORE
Huntington 28, Captain Shreve 21
TONIGHT’S GAMES
Haughton (7-0, 3-0) at Airline (6-1, 3-0), M.D. Ray Field
Natchitoches Central (0-7, 0-3) at Benton (3-4, 1-3), Newman-Mason Field at Tiger Stadium
Evangel (4-3, 3-0) at Byrd (0-7, 0-3), Lee Hedges Stadium
Parkway (4-3) at East Ascension (6-1)
Bossier (3-4, 1-2) at Northwood (3-4, 2-1), Jerry Burton Stadium
Woodlawn (0-7, 0-3) at Booker T. Washington (5-2, 2-1), Independence Stadium
Southwood (1-6, 1-3) at Minden (5-2, 2-2), W.W. Williams Stadium
Bastrop (4-3, 1-1) at Loyola (4-3, 1-1), Messmer Stadium
Calvary (7-0) at Archbishop Shaw (6-1)
Green Oaks (6-0, 1-0) at Homer (2-5, 2-1)
Magnolia School of Excellence (0-7, 0-2) at North Caddo (1-5, 0-2), Sanders-Prudhomme Stadium
Buckeye (2-5) at Plain Dealing (1-6)