There are two times during the year that are awesome for bass fishing, spring and fall. During the spring, bass are moving up into the shallows to spawn and make more little bass. So, it’s a great time to catch that fish of a lifetime as the big females are full of eggs. In the fall, the bass are going through a feeding frenzy and fattening up for the winter which also makes for exciting fishing.

Of these two times of the year, fall is probably my favorite. If you want to catch fish in the fall, tie on any lure you want as long as it looks like a shad. 

Shad colored spinnerbaits or crankbaits are deadly during the fall. Bass will slowly migrate out of their deep summer haunts and will move up shallow and into the back of the creeks. 

They will literally go into ambush mode and destroy a school of baitfish. If whatever you’re throwing looks like shad, they will eat it! Here are few tips on what to throw if you’re not sure what you need to tie on. 

I love to catch them on a shad pattern spinnerbait this time of year. You can throw either a white or any type of shad color and catch fish. Your hook up ratio with a spinnerbait seems to be really good. But a good shad colored crankbait like a Bandit 100 or 200 series in a pearl color with a black back or a white splatter back will also put fish in the boat. 

It’s also a great time to throw a buzz bait or any kind of topwater bait. Bass love a walking style bait like Heddon Zara Spook in either chrome or white. 

But there’s also another bait that is pretty much a guarantee for catching fish in the fall, a rattling shad bait like a Bill Lewis Rattle Trap or a SPRO Aruku Shad. Both baits truly mimic the bait fish bass are gorging themselves on this time of year. 

Fall can also be an excellent time to go out on the lake and find new places you might want to fish next season. And if the lake is low, it’s really great to try to locate and mark those hard spots bass love to get on in the winter and early spring. 

Too many anglers miss out on some of the best bass fishing of year as they park their bass boats and load up four-wheelers and head to the woods. Many start to focus on getting deer stands cleaned out or building and dressing their duck blinds. 

So, take advantage of uncrowded boat ramps that the fall brings. Head out to your favorite lake and enjoy some of the best bass fishing of the year. You never know, you just might catch your personal best.   

Contact Steve at sgraf26@yahoo.com

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Phonetic: /SHOH-far/

Part of Speech: Noun

Definition

the horn of a ruminant animal and usually a ram blown as a trumpet by the ancient Hebrews in battle and during religious observances and used in modern Judaism especially during Rosh Hashanah and at the end of Yom Kippur

The holiday ends when the shofar, a musical instrument made from a ram’s horn or another animal, is blown.

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Five People Killed in Shreveport Over Weekend; SPD Says Victims Knew Their Attackers
Shreveport Police Department, Caddo Parish Coroner’s Office

Shreveport recorded five homicides over the weekend of Sept. 12-14, bringing the city’s 2026 total to 35. SPD officials said all of the cases involve people who knew one another.

The deaths include LaJames Smith, 31, and David Young, 26, shot and killed in the 6500 block of Mansfield Road early Saturday after a suspect vehicle followed their crashed car and fired multiple rounds into it. Later Saturday, Jamarcus Fisher was killed during an altercation at a Shell station at 4000 Jewella Avenue near Greenwood Road. Two individuals are sought for questioning in that case. On Sunday, Stemond Scott, 37, was stabbed and killed at his Corbitt Street residence by his girlfriend, who fled with three children and is charged with second-degree murder. Also Sunday, 19-year-old Jayve’us Williams was shot and killed at Sunset Acres Park.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Shreveport-Caddo Crime Stoppers at 318-673-7373.

Caddo Parish Commission Rejects Data Center Construction Pause
Caddo Parish Commission

The Caddo Parish Commission rejected a measure that would have paused data center construction in unincorporated areas of the parish, allowing the Amazon Web Services campus near Blanchard to proceed on its current timeline. A companion resolution requiring environmental studies from data center developers also failed to advance.

Shreve Memorial Library Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month Through October 15
Shreve Memorial Library

Shreve Memorial Library is inviting Caddo Parish residents to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month — observed Sept. 15 through Oct. 15 — with free arts and crafts workshops, story times, and movie screenings at branches throughout the parish. Workshops will feature traditional folk art techniques including hojalata tin art, amate bark paintings, Talavera tiles, Panamanian molas, and calaveras sugar skulls. Children’s story times will feature books by Hispanic authors, and teen and adult movie screenings will include titles such as In the Heights, Encanto, Coco, and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. All programs are free and open to the public. Registration may be required for some events. Details are available at all Shreve Memorial Library branches.

Caddo Parish Schools Observes Celebrate Freedom Week
Caddo Parish Schools, Louisiana Department of Education

Caddo Parish Schools is observing Louisiana’s annual Celebrate Freedom Week, which requires public schools to provide instruction on the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. The week coincides with Constitution Day on Sept. 17.

The Caddo Magnet High School community dedicates a mural honoring two alumni who fell in battle in Afghanistan

Community leaders, families of the men honored, and the students and faculty of Caddo Magnet High School unveiled a mural dedicated to two alumni who died in the service of our country in 2011 on the 25^th anniversary of the 9-11 attacks, Friday September 11 at Caddo Magnet High School.

The mural depicts two men, Lieutenant Commander Jonas B. Kelsall, Caddo Magnet class of ––1996, and Senior Chief Petty Officer Robert J. Reeves, Caddo Magnet class of 1997. The two men were friends and teammates on Caddo Magnet’s soccer and lacrosse teams. They were both serving as Navy SEALS in Afghanistan when the helicopter they were traveling on was shot down by the Taliban, killing all abord. August 6, 2011, marked the largest number of US and allied casualties from a single incident of the war in Afghanistan.

The mural depicts the two men in their Navy uniforms with an insert of them in their soccer playing days as high school teammates. The mural was designed and painted by Caddo Magnet 2021 alumna and art instructor Ms. Laura Vickers, ably assisted by a team of four students. In the middle of the mural is a moving epitaph “They began as classmates, teammates and friends. They became symbols of courage, service and sacrifice.”

Caddo Magnet English IV instructor Jill Carnie, a 21 year old first year teacher at the time, delivered a poignant and occasionally humorous reflection of the young men as high school students. She was followed by CMH student Joni Woddard who read her winning essay. Director of Bands Don Hardin played Taps after which bagpiper James Parker played Amazing Grace. The superb Caddo Magnet Chorus sang the National Anthem while the Caddo Magnet Army JROTC presented the colors and student Issac Strange gave the prayer. Army JROTC cadet Micheal Nix led the Pledge of Allegiance.

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Week 3 of the Shreveport-Bossier Journal’s annual High School Football Pick ’Em contest is underway, giving local fans another chance to test their gridiron knowledge and win cash.

Each week, the contest features 10 selected matchups highlighting Bossier and Caddo high schools and marquee regional games. The second round of competition concludes Friday, Sept. 18, so make your selections before kickoff to get in the game.

Each weekly winner will take home $100 and be featured with a photo in the Journal.

Participants can submit their picks online through the SBJ platform throughout the season to see who truly reigns as the top football prognosticator in Bossier and Caddo Parishes.

Contest Rules & Details

• Anyone is eligible to participate for free, and each week’s winning participant will win a $100 prize. Each week, the winner will be the participant with the best record out of 10 selected high school football games. Ties will be broken by two separate tiebreakers consisting of guessing the total points scored in two designated weekly contests. The picker with the closest score, without going over, is the winner. All decisions by Management/SBJ are final. The contest can be modified and/or cancelled without notice to the public.
  
  The only persons not eligible to participate are the publisher, the publisher’s immediate family, and regular content contributors to the Journal as determined by Management/SBJ.
  
• There is no entry fee. All contest decisions by Journal management are final. Weekly winners will be notified on Mondays and must agree to have their photo published in the Journal.
  
• Every participant receives a free subscription to the Journal, delivered directly to their inbox daily at 6:55 a.m.

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By RON HIGGINS, Journal Sports

BATON ROUGE – All winter, spring and summer, Las Vegas oddsmakers maintained Ole Miss as a 2½-point favorite in its Sept. 19 home game over LSU.

It had nothing to do with first-year Tigers’ head football coach Lane Kiffin returning to Oxford where he spent six seasons building the Rebels, culminating in last year’s College Football Playoff semifinal berth.

It was about Ole Miss, returning its three best players ranked No. 1 in the nation at their respective positions, being a more proven commodity than Kiffin’s Tigers and their 47 transfer portal purchases.

Two weekends ago, when LSU and Ole Miss kicked off season openers, it all changed. The Tigers destroyed Clemson 51-10 while the Rebels squeaked by Louisville 41-38 on a last-second field goal.

LSU leapfrogged Ole Miss in the Associated Press and Coaches polls, and so here we are. It’s game week for the now 3-point favorite 7th ranked Tigers (2-0) headed in Saturday’s 6:30 p.m. SEC opening Armageddon at No. 8 Ole Miss (2-0).

But don’t tell Kiffin his team has flipped to the catbird seat. He isn’t buying it.

“The pressure is on them,” Kiffin said of the Rebels at his Monday press conference. “We (LSU) won seven games last year. They won 13. They return two Heisman candidates (quarterback Trinidad Chambliss and running back Kewan Lacy). How often does that ever happen in the same backfield?”

Kiffin left Ole Miss before its playoff run, heisted four Rebels’ offensive assistants for his LSU staff and then in May criticized the school’s racial history in a Vanity Fair magazine interview.

The smoldering hate by Ole Miss fans for him and his abrupt coaching change might be unparalleled in SEC history.

Not even Kiffin’s overnight decision in January 2010 to become Southern Cal’s head coach after just one season at Tennessee has had the intense immediate residual effect of Kiffin’s jump to a place he describes as “just different.”

Kiffin didn’t have to face Tennessee until more than a decade later in 2021 during his second Ole Miss season when the Rebels’ won 31-26 in Knoxville. Vols’ fans peppered him with golf balls, vape pipes, screws, water bottles, half-eaten fruit, and an empty mustard bottle.

Since Kiffin is just 9½ months removed from jilting Ole Miss for LSU, which will remain a permanent annual SEC opponent for the Rebels (unlike Tennessee), authorities are preparing for the worst.

Oxford Mayor Robyn Tannehill and local law enforcement are bringing in extra horse-mounted patrols from New Orleans and Mobile to assist with crowd control.

“I told the players today (Monday) you don’t have anything to worry about as far as attention on you all week and everything,” Kiffin said. “There’s just going to be so much attention, hatred, everything on me. I said, `You just get to go play.’”

Pete Golding, elevated from Ole Miss defensive coordinator to head coach as soon as Kiffin boarded the plane for Baton Rouge and his new job, asked the Rebels’ fan base and Oxford to have cooler heads prevail this weekend.

“We want to create a really good loud environment like they always have for a top 10 matchup,” Golding said at his Monday press conference. “There’s nothing wrong with being competitive and being in the moment, right?

“But at the end of it, there’s still a respect piece. Let’s not lose that over a game, over a person. At the end of the day, don’t lose what has been created here for so long, which is a really unique place with really good people in a place that’s really hard to play.”

Here’s Kiffin on other subjects:

On the challenge of facing Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss

“Trinidad is 24 years old still playing college football. That’s the same as (NFL starting quarterbacks) Drake May and Caleb Williams. You’re dealing with a quarterback that has a lot of maturity in age and a lot of plays in big time games. You’re going to have to play really well for a long period of time against him because he doesn’t make many mistakes.”

On LSU third-year defensive coordinator Blake Baker, who Kiffin convinced to stay last January rather than become head coach at Tulane or Memphis

“I look at the process, and not just outcome. I look at his (Baker’s) calls where we’re taking away things offenses are doing, like the (TD) interception against Clemson. I was hoping as we challenged him differently offensively in practice with our (fast) tempo, it would make our defense even better than they were last year. Through two games, it’s been that way.”

GAME 3

No. 7 LSU (2-0 overall, 0-0 SEC) vs. No. 8 Ole Miss (2-0 overall, 0-0 SEC), Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, Oxford, Saturday, 6:30 p.m. (ABC)

Last game for Rebels: Beat Charlotte 41-9 in the home opener last Saturday. The Rebels won their 13th consecutive home game, which is the third-longest active streak in the FBS. Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss completed 23-of-26 for 225 yards and two touchdowns. Running back Kewan Lacy added 87 rushing yards and two TDs on 13 carries.

Series record and last meeting: Considering forfeited or vacated games due to NCAA sanctions, LSU claims it leads the series 64-44-4 while Ole Miss has it as 64-43-4. Last season in Oxford, Rebels’ QB Chambliss had 385 of the Rebels’ 480 total offense yards as No. 13 Ole Miss edged No. 4 LSU 24-19.

Ole Miss head coach: Pete Golding (4-1 overall and at Ole Miss in his first full season).

THIS AND THAT

Early betting line: LSU by 3

Betting tip: In the last six games in this series, the home team is 6-0 straight up and against the spread.

Number of Louisiana natives on Ole Miss roster: 4

Number of Mississippi natives on LSU roster: 1

Number of transfers on the Ole Miss roster from 4-year schools: 45 players from 39 schools.

OLE MISS PLAYERS TO WATCH

QB Trinidad Chambliss (44 of 62 for 561 passing yards, 5 TDs, 1 interceptions, 62 rushing yards and 1 TD on 13 carries), RB Kewan Lacy (148 rushing yards and 3 TDs on 30 carries), WR Deuce Alexander (13 catches for 235 yards) and 3 TDs, LB Tah’j Butler (12 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 PBU), CB Jaylen Braxton (16 tackles, 3 PBU), PK Lucas Carneiro (4 of 5 FG, 10 of 10 PAT), P Oscar Bird (5 for 45.40 ypk, 0 touchbacks, 2 fair catches, 0 inside the 20, 1 50 yards plus)

DID YOU KNOW. . .

With a win over LSU, Pete Golding will become the first Louisiana native to coach Ole Miss to a football win over the Tigers. The Hammond-born Golding is the third Rebels’ head football coach from the Pelican State, joining Jonesboro’s Ed Walker (who coached the Rebs from 1930-37) and LaRose’s Ed Orgeron (2015-17). Walker was 0-8 vs. LSU and Orgeron went 0-3 vs. Tigers.

Contact Ron at ronhigginsmedia@gmail.com

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By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports

It’s early, two weeks into the season.

But it’s not too early to get excited about Booker T. Washington’s 2-0 Lions, especially as they head into the most ballyhooed game of any season, the 53^rd Annual Soul Bowl Saturday afternoon against their rival, the equally undefeated Green Oaks Giants.

BTW blasted Arcadia 54-0 in the season opener as expected. But few thought the Lions could go into Benton and topple the Tigers last Friday night.

They did, and did it convincingly. The 30-16 final doesn’t reflect the 24-0 lead that BTW built.

For their fast start, coming on the heels of a 2025 second-round state playoff appearance that included an opening-round road win at Istrouma in Baton Rouge, the Lions are the Shreveport-Bossier Journal’s Team of the Week.

Fourth-year coach Gary Cooper has taken his alma mater (Class of 2002) a step further along every season. While there’s a lot to be said about how well the team is playing, Cooper believes it’s rooted in how they’re being coached and mentored by his staff.

“A big part of this is guys that we got around the kids. We don’t cut them any slack,” he said. “Everybody on the staff, we played college ball, so we go back to what we knew and give it to these kids in moderation. We try to spend as much time we can with these kids while we have them. It’s just the way we do things. It’s a daily grind.”

It gets noticed, around town and most importantly, in the hallways and classrooms and cafeteria at BTW.

“The atmosphere at school is changing, day by day. The students are really rallying behind our kids,” said Cooper. “It’s always been a great place to be. When you’re winning and the rest of the school is buying into what you’re doing, it’s a great thing to see on campus.”

He is the only Lion alumnus on staff, but only one coach didn’t graduate from a nearby school. The senior member of the staff, athletic director and co-defensive coordinator Tony Reliford, is from a few miles east in Ringgold and has been at BTW for 26 years. Floyd Davis is a New Orleans native.

Otherwise, the coaches are locals – one more so than the rest this week. Special teams coordinator Roland Moore graduated from Green Oaks.

That, said Cooper, hasn’t come up, and it won’t.

“I remember coaching at Fair Park, against Booker T., back in the day. Somebody asked me about it, and I said, ‘at this point right now, I’m paying my bills. So, I got to win a game for Fair Park.’

“All these coaches, they are so bought in, you’d think they are Booker T. grads, the way they care and the way they do things.”

Returning quarterback Devion Stewart is the team’s undisputed leader and threw for 297 yards and three touchdowns at Benton, completing 12 of 21. Cooper is proud of his receiver corps, where two All-Staters graduated and a new crop of relatively untested players is stepping in nicely.

“We had to get a new group of kids and this group is responding very well,” he said.

The other key is the offensive line, which protects Stewart and moves defenders in the running game. New coach Tre’ Lester has the big guys producing, notably guard Austin Gant, who “is having a heck of a season so far,” said Cooper.

Other under-the-radar standouts include Tremell Howard Choyce who played receiver, H-back, linebacker, and strong safety at Benton, “played all night long, pretty much almost every snap, and played his tail off.”

Cooper has two freshmen in the secondary, Eric O’Neal and Keyunitae Morris, who have blossomed.

“Those are 14-15 year-old kids. Their ceiling’s through the roof,” he said. “They have very, very high football IQs and play very well.”

While the immediate focus is on Saturday’s game, the Lions aim to contend for the District 1-4A championship, make a fourth straight playoff appearance and this time, move the needle with a second-round win and maybe more. Cooper outlined the necessary steps.

“It’s to remain healthy, that’s the main thing. If we do that and continue to do the things we’re doing, the kids responding to coaching very well, we have the best chance to have a great year,” he said. “They’re handling the attention and success they’re having right now very well. It’s about staying healthy, staying coachable, and just continuing to fight the way they fight.”

Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com

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JOURNAL SPORTS

Captain Shreve and Northwood, who both rebounded from Week 1 disappointments with victories last week, square off Thursday to start the third week of high school football.

It’s one of only four games pitting Shreveport-Bossier teams against each other. Huntington goes to Evangel, Woodlawn travels to Benton and Saturday, the 53^rd annual Soul Bowl kicks off between unbeatens Green Oaks and Booker T. Washington.

Week 3 high school football games involving local schools:

THURSDAY’S GAME

Captain Shreve (1-1) at Northwood (1-1), Jerry Burton Stadium

FRIDAY’S GAMES

Airline (2-0) at Little Rock-Pulaski (1-1)

Byrd (0-2) at North DeSoto (2-0)

Huntington (0-2) at Evangel (0-2), Rodney Duron Field

Woodlawn (0-2) at Benton (1-1), Newman-Mason Field at Tiger Stadium

Glenbrook (0-2) at Haughton (2-0), Dak Prescott Field

Red River (0-2) at Parkway (1-1), Preston Crownover Stadium

Bossier (2-0) at Logansport (2-0)

Wossman (0-2) at Southwood (0-2), Independence Stadium

St. Edmund (2-0) at Loyola (1-1), Messmer Stadium

Grant (1-1) at Calvary (2-0), Jerry Barker Stadium

North Caddo (0-1) at Lakeside (0-2)

Magnolia School of Excellence (0-2) at Lakeview (1-1)

Plain Dealing (0-2) at Acadiana Christian (0-2)

SATURDAY’S GAME

Green Oaks (2-0) at Booker T. Washington (2-0), Leonard C. Barnes Stadium, 5 p.m.

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JOURNAL SPORTS

Calvary rose to the No. 1 ranking in the Louisiana Sports Writers Association Class 2A top 10 poll for Week 3 of the high school football season, while Loyola stayed eighth in the Class 3A rankings.

Those were the only two Shreveport-Bossier schools receiving votes again this week.

Calvary blasted Bunkie on the road, 58-14, last Friday. Meanwhile the previous 2A No. 1, Dunham, was hammered 58-8 by 5A’s fifth-ranked team, Catholic of Baton Rouge, and slipped to second place.

Loyola nearly notched its second consecutive 5A win, getting nipped 42-41 by Parkway on a last-minute touchdown and two-point conversion. Voters maintained their support for the Flyers, who lost just three points and maintained the No. 8 ranking in Class 3A.

Only 14 of the 50 ranked teams in this week’s top 10 polls are from the 318 area code.

Eleven sports media members in the LSWA are polled weekly to compile the rankings.

Class 5A

School (1^st place votes), record, poll points, last week’s ranking

1.Ruston (9), 2-0, 130,1

2. Karr (2), 2-0, 123, 2

3. Alexandria, 2-0, 102, 3

4. St. Augustine, 2-0, 99, 4

5. Catholic-Baton Rouge, 1-1, 83, 5

6. John Curtis, 1-1, 78, 6

7. Archbishop Rummel, 2-0, 70, 7

8. Acadiana, 2-0, 57, 8

9. Brother Martin, 2-0,  40, 9

10. Ouachita, 2-0, 20, NR

Others receiving votes: West Monroe 19, Jesuit 9, Mandeville 9, Central 8, Barbe 4, St. Thomas More 2, Destrehan 1, Southside 1, Thibodaux 1. 

Class 4A

1. Westgate (8), 2-0, 128, 2

2. Archbishop Shaw (1), 2-0, 118, 2

3. North DeSoto (1), 2-0, 104, 3

4. Neville (1), 1-1, 104, 4

5. Lake Charles Prep, 2-0, 88, 6

6. Madison Prep, 1-1, 78, 7

7. Franklin Parish, 1-1, 54, 8

8. Cecilia, 2-0, 51, 9

9. Plaquemine, 1-1, 49, 5

10. Salmen, 1-1,  36,  Not rated

Others receiving votes:  Lafayette Renaissance 20, John F. Kennedy 15, E.D. White 6, Belle Chasse 3, Teurlings Catholic 3, Carencro 1.

Class 3A

1. St. Charles (11),2-0, 136, 1

2. St. James, 2-0, 114, T3

3. Jena, 2-0, 110, 5

4. Sterlington, 1-1, 95, 2

5. Iowa, 1-1, 70, 9

6. University, 0-2, 67, T3

7. Jewel Sumner,1-1, 63, 6

8. Loyola, 1-1, 53 , 8

9. Marksville, 2-0, 49, NR

10. Vandebilt Catholic, 1-1, 41, 7

Others receiving votes: Iota 19, Northwest 4, Erath 4, De La Salle 3, Carroll 1, Eunice 1.

Class 2A

1, Calvary Baptist (9), 2-0, 129, 2

2, Dunham (2), 1-1, 119, 1

3. Notre Dame, 2-0, 111, 4

4. Mangham, 1-1,  95, 6

5. Lafayette Christian Academy, 2-0, 81, 6

6. Oak Grove, 1-1, 79, 3

7. Amite, 2-0, 76, 7

8. Kinder, 1-1, 53, 5

9. Catholic-New Iberia, 1-1, 36

10. Mansfield, 2-0, 29, NR

Others receiving votes: Newman 25, Loreauville 19, West St. Mary 6, Covenant Christian 3, Country Day 2, Union Parish 2.

Class 1A

1. Ouachita Christian (8),2-0, 129, 1

2. Riverside Academy (3), 2-0, 123, 2

3. Ascension Catholic, 2-0, 109, 3

4. Jeanerette, 2-0, 96, 4

5. Haynesville,  1-1, 83, 5

6. Logansport, 2-0, 69, 6

7. Southern Lab, 2-0, 66, 7

8. Kentwood, 2-0, 59, 8

9. Westminster-Lafayette, 2-0, 45, 9

10. South Plaquemines, 1-1, 25, NR

Others receiving votes: Cedar Creek 21, East Feliciana 12, Lincoln Prep 11, St. Edmund 6, Westminster-Opelousas 5.

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JOURNAL SPORTS

Josh Heupel has won a national championship as a quarterback, been the Heisman Trophy runner-up and won an SEC Coach of the Year award most recently, but before that, he was a standout in the Independence Bowl and is ranked as the No. 13 player on the Independence Bowl’s 50th Anniversary All-Time Team.

A local media panel chose the top 50 and then ranked them based on career achievements and performances in the local bowl, which celebrates its 50^th anniversary this fall.

Heupel had a banner day at the 1999 Independence Bowl against Ole Miss, the last college football game of the 20th century, ending at 11:03 p.m. on December 31, 1999. Completing 73.6 percent of 53 passes, his 390 passing yards set the record for most passing yards in a single Independence Bowl. The record stood until 2018.

He also added three touchdown passes, along with one interception, on his way to being named the 1999 Offensive Player of the Game despite Oklahoma falling to the Rebels, 27-25.

After spending two seasons at Weber State and one season at Snow College, Heupel transferred to Oklahoma for the 1999 season – Bob Stoops’ first season as head coach of the Sooners. He immediately started lighting up the box scores, as he threw for 3,460 yards and 30 touchdowns in 11 games in 1999. He led the Big 12 Conference that season in pass attempts (500), completions (310), passing yards, passing yards per game (314.5), passing touchdowns and interceptions (15). He was named Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year and second-team All-Big 12. 

Oklahoma built on the 1999 season and its Independence Bowl appearance in 2000, going undefeated and winning the BCS National Championship that season. Heupel once again passed for over 3,000 yards – tossing for 3,392 yards and 20 touchdowns. He earned a laundry list of accolades that season – winning the Walter Camp Award, Archie Griffin Award and Chic Harley Award while also being named the AP College Football Player of the Year, Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, and chosen a consensus All-American and first-team All-Big 12. He also finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting.

After his illustrious college career, Heupel was selected in the sixth round of the 2001 NFL Draft, but after two seasons of attempting to make it, he transitioned to coaching. After becoming a highly successful quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator, Heupel got his first crack at being a head coach at UCF in 2017. He led the Knights to a 12-1 record in their first season and won the American Athletic Conference Football Championship Game. 

In 2021, Heupel became head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers. After a 7-6 season in his first season in Knoxville, he helped lead the Vols to their most victories in a season since 2001, going 11-2 and winning the Orange Bowl that season. He was named the SEC Coach of the Year.

In his first five seasons at Tennessee, Heupel has led the Vols to a 45-20 record, two bowl victories and one College Football Playoff appearance. 

In his eight-plus seasons as a head coach between UCF and Tennessee, Heupel sports a 75-28 record.

The next player on the Independence Bowl’s 50th Anniversary All-Time Team, No. 12, will be announced on Monday, September 21. Players will be announced individually every week, with No. 1 being announced on Monday, December 7.

The first 37 players on the Independence Bowl’s 50th Anniversary All-Time Team, as previously announced (with position, school and years played in the I-Bowl):

No. 14 – Art Monk (WR, Syracuse, 1979); No. 15 – Von Miller (OLB, Texas A&M, 2009); No. 16 — Wesley Walls (DE/TE, Ole Miss, 1986); No. 17 – Joe Morris (RB, Syracuse, 1979); No. 18 – Ray Childress (DT, Texas A&M, 1981); No. 19 – Sidney Rice (WR, South Carolina, 2005);

No. 20 – Brad Smith (QB, Missouri, 2003 and 2005); No. 21 – Derrick Mason (WR, Michigan State, 1995); No. 22 – Garrison Hearst (RB,  Georgia, 1991); No. 23 – Jacob Rodriguez (LB, Texas Tech, 2023); No. 24 – Tim Krumrie (NG, Wisconsin, 1982); No. 25 – Muhsin Muhammad (WR, Michigan State, 1995); No. 26 – Ja’Mar Toombs (RB, Texas A&M, 2000); No. 27 – Otis Wilson (LB, Louisville, 1977); No. 28 – A.J. Green (WR, Georgia, 2009); No. 29 – Rocky Calmus (LB – Oklahoma, 1999); No. 30 – Flozell Adams (OT – Michigan State, 1995);

No. 31 – Willie Blade (DT, Mississippi State, 2000); No. 32 – Scott Thomas (S, Air Force, 1983 & 1984); No. 33 – Chad Hennings (DT, Air Force, 1984); No. 34 — Dameyune Craig (QB, Auburn, 1996); No. 35 – Geno Atkins (DT,  Georgia, 2009); No. 36 – Rondell Mealey (RB, LSU, 1997); No. 37 – Rolando McClain (LB, Alabama, 2007); No. 38 – Weldon Brown (CB, Louisiana Tech, 2008); No. 39 – Andre Smith (OT, Alabama, 2006 & 2007; No. 40 – Tiki Barber (RB, Virginia, 1994);

No. 41 – Puka Nacua (WR, BYU, 2021); No. 42 – Gary Kubiak (QB; Texas A&M, 1981); No. 43 — Seneca Wallace (QB, Iowa State, 2001); No. 44 – Todd McClure (C, LSU, 1995 & 1997); No. 45 – Gary Anderson (K, Syracuse, 1979); No. 46 – Booger McFarland (LB, LSU, 1995 & 1997); No. 47 – Tremaine Edmunds (LB – Virginia Tech, 2015); No. 48 – Bill Musgrave (QB – Oregon, 1989); No. 49 – Larry Anderson (DB – Louisiana Tech, 1977); No. 50 – Lorenza Baker (LB – Louisiana Tech, 1990).

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JOURNAL SPORTS

It took a while for Millsaps to get going, but scoring two touchdowns in the final 48 seconds of the first half Saturday night at Centenary’s Atkins Field turned a close game into a rout.

Millsaps tripled its lead at the half on the way to a 57-0 victory in Centenary’s official season debut. The Majors (2-0) scored four fourth-quarter TDs and outgained Centenary 443-125.

TJ Ranson and Marc Canzoneri led the Gents with eight tackles apiece while Bryan Washignton and Devon Strickland, a senior linebacker from Byrd, were next with five each.

Former Captain Shreve standout Zane Wyss averaged 46 yards on eight punts. No Centenary offensive player accounted for more than 32 yards rushing or passing.

The Gents suffered four turnovers and were penalized 10 times.

Centenary goes to East Texas Baptist (1-1) in Marshall Saturday night. The Tigers beat Lyon 58-7 in their season opener, then lost 45-44 last Saturday at Belhaven.

ETBU won last year at Centenary, 50-33.

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In the 1880s, getting mail in remote parts of the United States was exciting.  In the era before electricity, mail and newspapers were the only connection between rural communities and the outside world.  Dorsey was one of the many rural mail carriers for the U.S. Postal Service.  Rural in an understatement in his case.  You see, for several years in the 1880s, Dorsey was the only mail carrier between Barstow and Calico in California’s rugged Mojave Desert because no one else wanted the job.  Dorsey lived in the silver mining town of Calico, about 10 miles as the crow flies northeast of Barstow.  Ten miles may not seem like a great distance by our modern standards, but between Calico and Barstow stands the 2641-foot elevation Lead Mountain.  Going around Lead Mountain would have added another four miles each way to Dorsey’s trek, so Dorsey went up and over the mountain.  Dorsey did not ride in a wagon or on a horse.  He walked.        

Each day, Dorsey donned his satchel and began walking through the heat, dust, and over rugged terrain to Barstow.  He knew what time the train from the California Southern Railroad was scheduled to arrive in Barstow and so he left in plenty of time to meet it.  If Dorsey was ahead of the train, which he normally was, he rested and relaxed in town.  As soon as the train arrived, Dorsey met the postman at the train’s mail car, loaded his satchel with mail destined for Calico, and began the return trip.  On a good day, Dorsey could make the whole trip in about seven or eight hours.          

Half a century later, the people of Barstow began searching for a photograph of the local legendary mail carrier so they could honor him with his own U.S. Postage stamp.  Unfortunately, Dorsey’s likeness was never used on a postage stamp.  To the people of Barstow and the few inhabitants of Calico, Dorsey remains a local hero.  They still talk about his daily walks between their towns… on his four legs.  You see, Dorsey, the rural mail carrier, was a black and white collie.

 Sources:

1.     The Astorian (Astoria, Oregon), November 21, 1885, p.1.

2.     Desert Dispatch (Barstow, California), September 2, 1948, p.3.

3.     Desert Dispatch, August 27, 1973, p.10.    

 © 2026 Brad Dison. All rights reserved. Remember This? is distributed for licensed publication only.

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Phonetic: /anath·​e·​ma/

Part of Speech: Noun

Definition

someone or something intensely disliked or loathed —usually used in the phrase be anathema (to)

one that is cursed by ecclesiastical authority

a ban or curse solemnly pronounced by ecclesiastical authority and accompanied by excommunication

the denunciation of something as accursed

a vigorous denunciation : curse

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By DAVID ERSOFF, Journal Contributor

I have to admit, when I looked at the menu for Back in the Saddle Grill and Bar, 5510 Airline Drive, Bossier City, I was confused. It was full of fried fish and seafood. It didn’t match the name.

I found out why when I sat down at the Saddle and was handed a menu. I had inadvertently screen shot the wrong menu! This disappointed my daughter, who was looking forward to some fried catfish. We will have to go to such a place in the next week or two.

The burger, sandwiches and comfort food-heavy menu matched the restaurant name perfectly. Our server mentioned they also have a food truck.

It was lunchtime and with the weather being so hot, plus the fact we weren’t headed home afterwards, we did not order a ton of food. In the past few months, I have grown to love Boudin Eggrolls, so I did start with an order of theirs. The Eggrolls did not disappoint; they were fried perfectly and full of flavor. I’ll always order these when I’m back in the Saddle.

For lunch I ordered the Brisket Mac and Cheese, partly because the menu said it was freshly made. After the first bite, I knew that the Mac and Cheese was freshly made. The brisket had good flavor and turned this simple dish into a satisfying meal.

My daughter went with the Grilled Cheese with Chopped Brisket and regular fries. She felt the same way about the brisket adding a nice satisfying element to a sandwich we all grew up having.

My son-in-law went with the Old Fashion Burger, but upgraded by adding an over-easy egg. I’ve seen eggs being added to burgers and hot sandwiches on the Food Channel, but I’d never ordered it. I still haven’t! My SIL said the burger was nice and juicy, with a lot of good flavor. As he ate the burger, the yoke broke and added a nice new element to the meal. Now I will have to try this soon.

He ordered Cajun Fries with his meal. Both the regular fries and the Cajun Fries were good.  I’d give the edge to the Cajun Fries, but you can’t go wrong with either.

Back in the Saddle had three desserts that I normally would have tried, or at the very least taken home; Darla’s Homemade Banana Pudding, fried Apple or Peach pie with ice cream and Bits Butter Cake with Caramel Sauce. I am going to have to brave Airline Drive just to try those!

Contact David at dersoff@bellsouth.net

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Two Men Killed in Execution-Style Shooting on Mansfield Road; Suspect Vehicle Sought
Shreveport Police Department, Caddo Parish Coroner’s Office

The Caddo Parish Coroner’s Office has identified the two men killed in a double homicide in the 6500 block of Mansfield Road in southwest Shreveport early Saturday morning as LaJames Smith, 31, and David Young, 26. Officers responded around 12:09 a.m. Saturday to reports of a shooting and found a vehicle that had crashed into a building with both men suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. They were transported to Ochsner LSU Health, where they were pronounced dead. Video from the Real Time Crime Center showed the victims’ vehicle traveling at high speed before crashing. About 40 seconds after the crash, a suspect vehicle arrived, and an unidentified person got out and fired multiple rounds into the crashed vehicle before fleeing. Smith and Young’s deaths are Shreveport’s 31st and 32nd homicides of 2026. A gray SUV is sought in connection with the shooting. Anyone with information is asked to contact Shreveport-Caddo Crime Stoppers at 318-673-7373.

Bossier City Councilman Withdraws Entertainment District Proposal
Bossier City Council

Bossier City Councilman Chris Smith has withdrawn his proposed Entertainment Development District from the Sept. 22 council agenda, citing the need for more time, broader community input, and a more clearly defined development vision. The proposal would have created a dedicated funding structure through an additional sales tax to reinvest in improvements along Bossier City’s East Bank District, Louisiana Boardwalk, and entertainment corridor. Smith said the goal of making Bossier City stronger remains, but the proposal needs further development before coming back to the council. He said any future version should begin with a clearly defined long-term plan and broader business and resident agreement before being introduced.

Shreveport Man Convicted of Raping Juvenile Relative; Sentenced to Life
Caddo Parish District Court, Caddo Parish District Attorney’s Office

A Shreveport man has been convicted of raping a juvenile relative and sentenced to life in prison by a Caddo Parish judge. Additional details on the defendant’s identity and specific charges are expected from the Caddo Parish District Attorney’s Office as the court record becomes publicly available.

Bossier Arts Council Begins Moving Out After City Council Severs Ties
Bossier City Council, Bossier Arts Council

The Bossier Arts Council has begun the process of relocating its operations after the Bossier City Council voted to sever its long-standing relationship with the organization. The council’s decision ends a partnership that supported arts programming and cultural events across Bossier City. The arts council says it remains committed to its mission and is working to identify a new home. Additional details on the council’s vote and the arts council’s next steps are expected in the days ahead.

Week 3 of the Shreveport-Bossier Journal’s annual High School Football Pick ’Em contest is underway, giving local fans another chance to test their gridiron knowledge and win cash.

Each week, the contest features 10 selected matchups highlighting Bossier and Caddo high schools and marquee regional games. The second round of competition concludes Friday, Sept. 18, so make your selections before kickoff to get in the game.

Each weekly winner will take home $100 and be featured with a photo in the Journal.

Participants can submit their picks online through the SBJ platform throughout the season to see who truly reigns as the top football prognosticator in Bossier and Caddo Parishes.

Contest Rules & Details

• Anyone is eligible to participate for free, and each week’s winning participant will win a $100 prize. Each week, the winner will be the participant with the best record out of 10 selected high school football games. Ties will be broken by two separate tiebreakers consisting of guessing the total points scored in two designated weekly contests. The picker with the closest score, without going over, is the winner. All decisions by Management/SBJ are final. The contest can be modified and/or cancelled without notice to the public.
  
  The only persons not eligible to participate are the publisher, the publisher’s immediate family, and regular content contributors to the Journal as determined by Management/SBJ.
  
• There is no entry fee. All contest decisions by Journal management are final. Weekly winners will be notified on Mondays and must agree to have their photo published in the Journal.
  
• Every participant receives a free subscription to the Journal, delivered directly to their inbox daily at 6:55 a.m.

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By JOHN JAMES MARSHALL, Journal Sports

Well folks, it may only be Week 2 of the high school football season, but there’s a clear front-runner for Game of the Year. Sure, it’s a long season but let’s just say that Weeks 3 through 10 better pick up their game if they want to compete with what occured at Messmer Stadium Friday night.

Parkway defeated Loyola 42-41 in a game that was closer than the score indicated.

“A great game,” said Loyola coach John Sella.

“I’m too old for this,” said Parkway coach Coy Brotherton.

It was a game in which the Panthers looked like they had it under control. It was a game in which the Flyers looked like they had it under control.

As it turned out, no one had their hands on the steering wheel until Parkway’s Damian Decaldacal came up with an interception in the end zone with 0:04 left in the game. That was the first time in which anybody knew for sure who was going to win this game.

For Parkway, it was a much-needed win after an ugly-to-say-the-least loss last week against Dunham. “Every emotion you can have in a football game, we had tonight,” Brotherton said.

The emotions on the Loyola side were different after the heart-breaking loss in which the Flyers led for almost the entire fourth quarter but couldn’t find a way to pick up a second straight win over a nearby Class 5A opponent.

“Our guys are hanging their heads and disappointed, and I told them we can be upset that we lost, but don’t be disappointed,” Sella said. “It’s been a long time since a Loyola team has been disappointed about not beating a 5A team. They (the Panthers) are a really good team that’s going to win a lot of ball games. So that makes me feel like (the Flyers) believe. That they fought back was incredible (from two touchdown behind).”

Ultimately, the two difference-making biggest plays – in a game full of them — came from a 5-foot-3 part-time defensive back and 270-pound “wide receiver.”

After the Flyers had extended their lead to 41-34 on a 5-yard run by Bryce Restovich with 6:03 left in the game, the Panthers responded with a clutch, game-on-the-line drive by going 85 yards in 10 plays, converting three third downs along the way.

Braxxton Black, on his 24^th carry of the night, scored on a two-yard run to make it 41-40, pending the extra point. Anyone who thought the Panthers were going to kick to tie the game hadn’t been paying attention because they had gone for the two-pointer after all five of their previous scores.

But this time, Brotherton reached into the wayback machine and used a two-point play that the Panthers used last year to win a playoff game in overtime.

A pre-snap shift made it appear that the play was going to be run to the more-populated right side. But once the shift happened, that actually put Parkway in a tackle-eligible formation. After the snap, left tackle/eligible receiver Roderick Johnson delayed for a moment, then headed for the end zone all by himself. Quarterback Bryston McCoy lobbed the pass to Johnson and the Panthers had the lead.

But based on what the capacity crowd had already seen, it only figured that something was bound to happen in 41 seconds.

It didn’t take long.

On the second play, Restovich hit Ty Walsworth perfectly in stride across the middle, who then turned upfield as the crowd gasped over a potential 71-yard touchdown play. However Walsworth was knocked out at the Loyola 25 with 18 seconds left.

On the next play, the Panthers turned up the defensive heat and forced Restovich to try to throw the ball away to avoid a sack. However, intentional grounding was called, and the Flyers were now in desperation mode with nine seconds left.

Restovich launched a pass into the end zone to the 6-foot-2 Walsworth but Decalcadal, who is almost 11 shorter and had never played defense before this week, was the one who came down with the ball in the end zone.

Black (158 yards rushing) and McCoy (253 yards passing) led the Parkway offense. Restovich had 358 yards and accounted for all six Flyer touchdowns by either running or passing. Receivers Charlie McKenzie (8 catches, 145 yards) and Walsworth (8 for 130) were the prime targets for Loyola.

Parkway is at home next week against Red River and the Flyers will play host to St. Edmund (Eunice).

Contact JJ at johnjamesmarshall@yahoo.com

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By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports

FLUSHING MEADOWS, N.Y.  – His first Grand Slam tennis championship came in January, halfway around the world. It was sweet winning the Australian Open men’s doubles crown in January, but for Shreveport native Christian Harrison, Saturday’s U.S. Open championship is the one that tugs at the heart.

Seeded fifth, Harrison and former LSU player Neal Skupski of Great Britain outfought the sixth-seeded German duo of Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz in the doubles final 6-4, 7-6(6) to claim their second major title of the season.

“We felt your energy today, so thank you for the support in this final,” Harrison told the New York crowd inside Arthur Ashe Stadium. “Thanks to my partner. It’s been a great year, to get two titles like this, and to do it at home.”

The 32-year-old had family and friends on hand and a partisan crowd, and in the post-match press conference left no doubt which of his first two majors ranks highest.

“You’re American, winning at home, and the family all got to be here, so that will be more special for a long time in terms of just pure satisfaction,” he said.

Harrison becomes only the fifth American man this century to win the U.S. Open doubles title.

In Saturday’s final, Harrison and Skupski prevailed in the second-set tiebreak, saving a set point at 5/6 before powering to victory in one hour and 39 minutes.

“It shows what can happen when you persevere, you work hard. We’ve got a good team,” said Harrison. “Doubles, obviously it’s about playing with your partner.

“We had a couple of tough losses actually going into the Open. We had lost three matches in a row, but we were somehow able to take some confidence into this tournament,” said Harrison.

It showed as the champions did not drop a set in six matches, upsetting the fourth-seeded team in the quarterfinals, then knocking off top seeds Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten in the semis.

By completing the run without losing a set, Harrison and Skupski became the third men’s team in the Open Era to win the title doing so, joining John McEnroe and Peter Fleming in 1983 and brothers Bob and Mike Bryan in 2008 and 2010.

In another sign of their mental toughness, Harrison and Skupski won all five of their tiebreaks at the hard-court major this year.

“I felt like we were just improving with each match. By the second, third round, I felt like we were both playing with the belief that we could do this again,” said Harrison.

The win means Harrison will make his debut in the Top 10 doubles rankings, ascending to world No. 4. Skupski will jump to world No. 3.

They reformed a partnership in Baton Rouge over the off-season after advancing to the ATP finals with different partners. The pair first played together in 2013 shortly after Skupski turned pro out of LSU.

“I feel like we complement each other very well on the court, and we’re still new as a partnership,” said Skupski. “We’re still getting to know each other, even though we’ve known each other for a long time, losing long ago in 2013 in our first Futures together in the first round in England. We’ve come a long way.”

Harrison followed in his brother’s footsteps by winning his first Grand Slam title in Australia, nine years after watching Ryan, who retired in 2025, hoist the Roland Garros 2017 French Open doubles crown.

The Harrisons are considered Louisiana tennis royalty. Each of the five siblings, nurtured by their iconic patriarch Jimmy Harrison, achieved top junior status, some with national rankings, and all played on the collegiate level. They all became coaches, and have made major impact at the recreational, high school, college and even professional levels.

One, Pat Harrison, is the father to Ryan and Christian. A former conference champion in singles and doubles at Oklahoma State, Pat Harrison is the former pro at the Pierremont Oaks Tennis Club and Shreveport Country Club.

Christian calls Bradenton, Fla., home when he is not globetrotting on the courts. Prior to his breakthrough 2026, his career high points came when he reached the men’s doubles semifinals of the 2025 French Open, and the U.S. Open mixed doubles semis in 2018 and 2025.

Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com

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BATON ROUGE – Is it a case of resting on last week’s season-opening laurels after emerging as a national championship contender?

“It’s a reality check,” LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt admitted.

Or could it be looking ahead to the real-life hell that awaits them next weekend at Ole Miss in the Burn Lane Kiffin At The Stake Welcome Home Party?

“We know what we’re walking into,” Tigers’ linebacker Whit Weeks said with a thin smile.

Somewhere between the dichotomy of theories is the truth why 35-½ point favorite, top-10 ranked LSU (2-0) stumbled punch-drunk through its first half before subduing Louisiana Tech 45-14 here Saturday night in Tiger Stadium.

And here’s the whole troof and nothing but the troof.

The Tigers’ defense is magnificent, a perfect storm of speed, athleticism and violence with elite defenders from sideline to sideline. Giving up a per game average so far of 12 points, 8 first downs and 142.5 yards per game (18.5 rushing, 124 passing), along with 22 tackles for loss and 11 QB sacks, is crackin’ opposing noggins like they were walnuts.

“Our defense was lights out again,” said LSU head coach Lane Kiffin, whose Blake Baker-coordinated unit of seek-and-destroy cyborgs held Louisiana Tech to zero total offense yards (20 passing, minus 20 rushing) and zero first downs in 20 first-half plays.  “I can’t imagine what the stats are through two games when the first team defense is out there.”

Who needs to imagine? In 45 first-half plays vs. opposing offenses in LSU’s opening pair of matchups vs. Clemson and Tech, the Tigers’ defense has allowed one first down, 54 total offense yards (78 passing, minus 24 rushing yards) and 0 of 14 third down conversions.

“The standard is playing 11 hats to the ball, fast, physical, and dominant,” said LSU edge rusher Princewell Umanmielen, who had three sacks and four tackles for loss vs. the Bulldogs.

While the Tigers’ defense so far has been money-in-the-bank, the same can’t be said just yet for LSU’s offense.

Sure, that’s a somewhat insane statement, considering the Tigers are averaging 586 total offense yards (358 pass, 228 points), 48 points and 89.5 snaps.

The thing is, in Kiffin’s raid-fire system, LSU should gain 500 yards each game sleepwalking.

“We’re winning by 31 points, and we’re really upset, so you know, we got a good standard going,” Kiffin said.

That benchmark is not what Leavitt has delivered – a 56.5 passing completion percentage, four interceptions and one TD – in first halves combined against Clemson and Tech.

While his scrambling ability – 67.6 rushing yards per game and five rushing TDs – is certainly welcome, his passing inaccuracy and decision-making isn’t befitting of a $5 million QB with 22 college starts (20 for Arizona State, 2 for LSU).

The Tigers scored one TD in its 10-7 halftime lead against Tech. Leavitt had a disastrous second quarter when he threw three interceptions.

One overthrow of 6 foot, 7-inch tight end Trey’Dez Green (which seems damned near impossible) and two terrible decisions to throw in double and triple coverage resulted in a trio of mistakes, including a stunning 90-yard TD interception return by Tech’s Jordan McRae with 1:53 left in the first half.

“Their (Tech’s) defensive staff deserves a lot of credit, they did a really good job,” Kiffin said. “They waited to make calls and timed up a lot of blitzes. In the second half, we adjusted more by snapping the ball faster and not trying to be in the perfect play.

“Our offensive line didn’t play well. Sam’s gotta do a better job of taking care of the ball. He’s very competitive. You can see that in some plays he’s trying too much.”

Leavitt can’t afford such mistakes when the Tigers open SEC play next Saturday at Ole Miss in the long-awaited hate match of the 2026 season. The incendiary fan base has been unforgiving of Kiffin after he left the program to fill LSU vacancy at the end of the regular season last November before the Rebels’ playoff run.

The Tigers moved to No. 7 in both the Associated Press and Coaches polls on Sunday. The AP has Ole Miss at No. 8 and the Coaches placed the Rebels at No. 9.

Next Saturday’s game marks the first time in 64 years LSU and Ole Miss play each other as top 10 ranked teams.

On Nov. 3, 1962, then-No. 6 Ole Miss beat No.4 15-7 in Tiger Stadium. It marked the end of a five-year run in which the Tigers and Rebels faced each other five times with both teams ranked in the top 10. LSU was 3-2 in those legendary matchups.

Three Ole Miss transfers – Umanmielen, linebacker TJ Dottery and wide receiver Winton Watkins – now start for the Tigers.

“Next game on schedule,” said a stone-faced Umanmielen of his return to face his old teammates. “Attack it like we do every other week. Practice hard. Practice how you play.”

Kiffin said he told his team Saturday’s partly shaky win over the Bulldogs was an “attention-getter.

“You’re getting ready to go on the road in the SEC versus a really good team that has played really well for years at that place,” said Kiffin, who coached the Rebels for six seasons. “It’s harder to get their (his LSU squad) attention after last week, so this struggle was good. I‘m glad it happened.”

Contact Ron at ronhigginsmedia@gmail.com

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JOURNAL SPORTS

BATON ROUGE –Louisiana Tech’s defense gave the Bulldogs opportunities, but the Bulldogs’ offense could not capitalize against the fierce defense of No. 8 LSU and the Tigers pulled away after halftime for a 45-14 win Saturday night at Tiger Stadium.

The Bulldogs (1-1) forced four turnovers in the first half, including a record-setting 100-yard interception return for a touchdown by Jordan McRae.

But Tech managed just 132 yards of total offense, nearly all of it in the final period, not getting a first down until the fourth period, as LSU (2-0) overcame the early miscues and eventually took control.

“I was very proud of how hard our guys played for four quarters,” Louisiana Tech coach Sonny Cumbie said. “We can focus on what we didn’t do as we watch the film and learn from it, but they played extremely hard for four quarters.

“Our kids fought. They strained their bodies. They laid it on the line, and we just didn’t make enough plays from an offensive standpoint to keep us in the game.”

McRae provided Tech’s only points of the first half when he intercepted LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt and returned it 100 yards for a touchdown with 1:53 remaining in the second quarter. It was the longest interception or fumble return in Louisiana Tech history.

McRae was one of three Bulldogs to intercept Leavitt in the opening half, joining Zheric Hill and Kam Franklin. McRae also forced a fumble that Janard Lockhardt recovered and returned 35 yards.

Tech’s defense also slowed LSU on the ground early, holding the Tigers to 13 rushing yards in the first quarter and 44 in the first half. The Bulldogs finished with 11 tackles for loss, recording five sacks.

Alonzo Jackson Jr. led Tech with 12 tackles, including three sacks and 3.5 tackles for loss. McRae added 11 tackles to go along with his interception and forced fumble.

“Defensively we just played a tremendous performance,” Cumbie said. “We got tired late. We did a great job of keeping their quarterback on his heels in terms of throwing the football. We knew he was going to make plays with his feet. He’s very dynamic and a really great runner. He hurt us a couple of times there.”

While the defense repeatedly gave Tech opportunities, the Bulldogs struggled to sustain anything offensively against LSU’s defense.

“We just didn’t play enough offense,” Cumbie said. “The team we were going against is probably one of the best defenses that I’ve ever seen. They’re really fast. They’re big. They’re athletic.

“We had our opportunities early in the game and didn’t create as much momentum as we would have liked to.”

Jalen Mickens provided Tech’s biggest offensive play, hauling in a 67-yard touchdown pass from Blake Baker in the fourth quarter. Mickens finished with six receptions for 101 yards, becoming the first Bulldog with consecutive 100-yard receiving games since Tru Edwards in 2024.

Baker completed 11 of 21 passes for 128 yards and one touchdown. Tech’s 132 yards of total offense were its fewest since managing 154 against LSU last season.

Louisiana Tech returns to the road Saturday when the Bulldogs travel to face Baylor.

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