JOURNAL SPORTS
District championships are within reach entering the ninth week of the high school football season while teams are trying for crucial wins to earn improved power points rankings for playoff qualification after Week 10.
Haughton and Calvary are local teams that can clinch at least a share of their district titles with wins Friday night.
In the headline game of the week, District 1-5A contenders Airline and Evangel collide, both rebounding from their first league losses last week. Evangel plays Haughton in the final week of the regular season. Airline lost to the Bucs last Friday. The Eagles-Vikings winner could tie for the 1-5A title, or even win it outright if Haughton falters in its final two games.
Calvary’s path is easier. The Cavaliers go for their 73rd consecutive district win Friday night and will clinch at least a co-championship in District 1-2A if they take care of business against winless Magnolia School of Excellence.
Two winners last week, Byrd and Huntington, are increasing their stock for playoff qualification in the LHSAA’s power points system, and wins in the final two weeks will enhance their status.
The Week 9 schedule for the 19 Shreveport-Bossier teams:
THURSDAY’S GAME
Northwood (4-4, 3-1) at Southwood (1-7, 1-4), Independence Stadium
FRIDAY’S GAMES
Airline (6-2, 3-1) at Evangel (4-4, 3-1), Rodney Duron Field
Huntington (2-6, 2-2) at Benton (4-4, 2-3), Newman-Mason Field at Tiger Stadium
Byrd (1-7, 1-3) at Parkway (4-4, 2-2), Preston Crownover Stadium
Haughton (8-0, 4-0) at Natchitoches Central (0-8, 0-4), Turpin Stadium
North DeSoto (8-0, 3-0) at Booker T. Washington (6-2, 2-1), Leonard C. Barnes Stadium
Woodlawn (0-8, 0-4) at Bossier (3-5, 1-3), Memorial Stadium
Loyola (5-3, 1-1) at North Webster (3-5, 1-1), Baucum-Farrar Stadium
Magnolia School of Excellence (0-8, 0-3) at Calvary (7-1, 2-0), Jerry Barker Stadium
North Caddo (2-5, 1-1) at Green Oaks (6-1, 1-1), Northwood Stadium
Plain Dealing (1-7) at Homer (3-5)
OPEN – Captain Shreve (4-4, 2-3)