By RON HIGGINS, Journal Sports

BATON ROUGE – There have been losses in Lane Kiffin’s 15 seasons as a college head football coach he couldn’t explain.

Like two years ago in Tiger Stadium when Kiffin’s 9^th ranked one-loss Ole Miss Rebels fell to 13^th ranked LSU 29-26 in overtime.

Ole Miss held the lead until LSU’s final two snaps, a game-tying Garrett Nussmeier to Aaron Anderson 23-yard TD pass with 27 seconds left in regulation followed by Nussmeier’s game-winning 25-yard scoring strike to Kyren Lacy on the Tigers’ first offensive snap in overtime.

“This was like our game. . .we had the game and let it slip away,” Kiffin said afterwards. This one will be hard. It will be around forever.”

Last Saturday, with the Nike on the other foot in first-year LSU head coach Kiffin’s first game against the Rebels, he and his team again had difficulty afterwards (especially after watching the game film) swallowing a 32-24 loss in an early season battle of unbeaten top 10 teams.

“There’s some games you just get outplayed, out coached, and you go, ‘OK,  back to the drawing board,’” Kiffin said at his Monday press conference as the now No. 10 ranked Tigers prepare to move on and host No. 23 Texas A&M on Saturday in Tiger Stadium. “But that one (the Ole Miss loss), they (his team) really struggled with this morning.

“After breaking down the film, they really feel like after seeing it that they lost the game in so many situations.”

In the most critical plays that decide a game – usually no more than five or six – LSU failed because of missed assignments.

Like settling on a game-tying field goal early in the fourth quarter after failing to score a TD because of a missed block.

“We have a toss to the running back that’s going to walk in the end zone,” Kiffin said. “The tight end doesn’t block the defensive end. Still made five yards, but it’s going to be a walk into the end zone. Those are the ones you struggle with because those are four-point plays a lot of time. Miss the (blocking) assignment down there and get a field goal instead of a touchdown.”

Or like LSU first-year starting quarterback Sam Leavitt’s unfortunate tunnel vision in the Tigers’ red zone costing his team valuable points.

“The last two times we go inside the five (yard line),” Kiffin said, “there’s two guys open in the end zone for touchdowns, and we get three combined points.”

Or LSU’s defense taking a poor pursuit angle on Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss’ game-winning 14-yard TD around left end as he sprinted untouched into the end zone.

“We have to do a really good job beating the (Ole Miss) tight end on it,” Kiffin said. “It’s not even a run that the quarterback pulls the ball on. It’s not even a zone read and he goes and scores.”

The dreadful feeling of the Tigers’ losing a winnable game has been exacerbated with the loss of a key starter on both sides.

Deshawn Spears, who played the STAR position defensively (a hybrid linebacker/defensive back) sustained a season-ending ACL knee tear against the Rebels.

When Spears was hurt, sophomore CJ Jimcoily and redshirt freshman Jhase Thomas both played in Spears’ absence.

Also, the loss of All-SEC first-team preseason tight end Trey’Dez Green with an undetermined leg injury is a huge blow to LSU’s offense. Green has been the Tigers’ safety valve receiver for the last two seasons.  He had 14 catches for 222 yards and a TD this season before getting hurt making a 19-yard catch and run on the second play of the fourth quarter at Ole Miss.

Tight ends Zach Grace, Malachi Thomas and Roman Mothershed filled Green’s vacancy. None of that trio has Green’s experience (11 LSU starts), his size (6-7, 237) or his athletic ability.

GAME 4

No. 10 LSU (2-1 overall, 0-1 SEC) vs. No. 23 Texas A&M (2-1, 0-1 SEC), Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge, Saturday, 6:30 p.m. (ABC)

Last game for Aggies: Lost at home 31-21 to Kentucky. The Wildcats’ defense limited A&M quarterback Marcel Reed to 26 of 49 passing for 236 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions.

Series record and last meeting: LSU leads 36-24-3. Last season in Baton Rouge, the Tigers led 17-14 at the half but the Aggies’ 35-7 second half scoring blitz resulted in a 49-25 blowout by the visitors leading to the firing of LSU head coach Brian Kelly the next day.

Texas A&M head coach: Mike Elko (37-17 in five seasons overall and 21-8 in three seasons at A&M).

THIS AND THAT

Early betting line: LSU by 8½

Betting tip: The over is 8-2 (including five straight) including in the last 10 LSU-TAMU games.

Number of Louisiana natives on Texas A&M roster: 2

Number of Texas natives on LSU roster: 7

Number of transfers on the Texas A&M roster from 4-year schools: 30 players from 22 schools (including three from LSU).

TEXAS A&M PLAYERS TO WATCH

QB Marcel Reed (62 of 104 for 632 passing yards, 6 TDs, 3 interceptions, 117 rushing yards and 1 TD on 62 carries), RB Rueben Owens (186 rushing yards and 1 TD on 41 carries), WR Mario Craver (19 catches for 194 receiving yards and 1 TD) WR Isaiah Horton (12 catches for 120 receiving yards and 3 TDs), DE Marco Jones (8 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 sack, 1 interception, 1 forced fumble), DE T.J. Searcy (14 tackles, 2½ FL, 1 sack, 1 PBU, 2 QB hurries), PK David Olano 3 of 3 FG, 15 of 15 PATs), P Tyler White (8 for 48.4 ypk, 1 touchback, 1 fair catch, 4 inside the 20, 4 50 yards plus)

DID YOU KNOW. . .

Former Texas A&M running back John David Crow was the first Louisiana-born native to win the Heisman Trophy. A native of Marion who graduated from Springhill High, the late Crow won the 1957 Heisman.

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By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports

CAMPTI — Players want to play. At Magnolia School of Excellence, nearly all of the Mariners play almost every play.

All 15 dressed out strode onto the field at Lakeview last Friday night hoping – no, believing —  they could do what their opponents did a week earlier and end the state’s second-longest losing streak.

They didn’t. Although they had chances into the second half, the Mariners lost for the 21^st consecutive game, 46-14. Lakeview won at home for the first time since 2023, and as a bonus, posted a homecoming triumph to follow its 35-0 Week 2 victory at Plain Dealing.

But Magnolia coaches and players rode home rather encouraged. For the first time in three games, they didn’t play with a running clock trailing by at least 40 points. They also scored for the first time – and staged a goalline stand.

So for the first time in the Shreveport-Bossier Journal’s five seasons, our Team of the Week didn’t celebrate a victory last weekend. Instead, the Mariners showed a ton of moxie and unabashedly set their sights on succeeding on the scoreboard this Friday night in their homecoming game.

“We’re going to come back,” said senior Lemont Anderson, a 205-pounder who wore two jerseys – Number 10 so he could play fullback, quarterback, tight end, or receiver, and on top of it, Number 70, in case he had to play center, which he did most of the night, along with defensive end.

“Next year, we can win. I won’t be playing, but they’ve got it,” he said. “Next week, we can win. We’ve got Beekman Charter on our homecoming week, and I need that one — and Senior Night, also.”

The approach is basic, said freshman Jadarien Peterson, who scored both Magnolia touchdowns on long returns in the kicking game — an 80-yard punt runback in the second quarter and with just under a quarter to go, a 78-yarder with a kickoff that kept the Mariners in range at 26-14.

“Hard work pays off. We’ve got to keep going,” he said. “Don’t stop. Don’t let nothing hold you down, at all.”

Nothing.

Not when your head coach, Kelly Yancey, is back despite two heart attacks last month, resulting in two stents put in just over a week before the Sept. 4 season opener at Class 5A Dutchtown.

“It just shows his dedication,” said Anderson. “We were worried, when we found out, and he was fresh out of surgery, and he wanted to come out and coach. We said, ‘no, you’re not.  Stay in that hospital bed.’”

He didn’t for very long. Friday night, Yancey was back for his second game, and wasn’t casually coaching. Even as the outcome was no longer in doubt in the closing minutes, he gave the officiating crew an earful a couple minutes after admonishing a hefty, very weary lineman who had sat down on the sideline.

“He’s never given up, ever,” said Anderson, in his third year on the team. “He keeps fighting. We keep fighting.”

On every snap, every kickoff. The ball went into play nearly 130 times Friday night. Anderson was off the field once, because he rolled his ankle. He couldn’t shake hands afterward because his right arm was banged up.

Peterson, a defensive back and receiver who might be 140 pounds, was also out there for all but one play. The four reserves were all linemen, so when a back was shaken up, one of them had to line up at fullback for a snap.

With a threadbare and fluid roster, there’s a steady flow of adjustments on the fly by coaches and players.

“We’re going to plug ‘em where we need them, try to get the most out of them, and constantly remind them it’s all about the team,” said Yancey. “We line up and try to go bust heads, and respect the guys across from us. We’re setting a culture, and that’s really hard with a team that’s been losing. But it’s about the team, and being winners not only on the field, but in the classroom and in life.”

Anderson proudly lifted his Number 70 jersey to show his Number 10 underneath.

“That’s what I started the game with, but we didn’t have a center (due to a concussion), and I had to do what I had to do,” he explained.

“Since I’ve been here, we ain’t won since, and I decided this year, I’m going to do whatever it takes to win. Truth be told, I’ve played every position – quarterback, running back, tight end, defensive end, linebacker, safety and now center. I’ll do anything we need.”

He recognizes progress when few others would.

“I can see today, it’s paying off, it’s working. I feel like we’re going to break that losing streak. We had little mistakes tonight. We’re tired. Once we get our stamina up, and get a few more people out here, we’ll be able to come out with wins. This was a very winnable game, and we got tired. That’s the only reason we lost.”

A two-point conversion run by Khali Davis after Peterson’s first TD tied the game at 8, thanks to a goalline stand that began at the 1 and ended with a blocked field goal, and an interception by Davis at Lakeview’s 20. A score four minutes before halftime gave Lakeview an unsteady lead. Yancey and his staff liked much of what they saw the rest of the way.

“Being in the game, seeing how they reacted to getting knocked down … getting back up ready to go.  We’ve got a proud 15 today, and I’ll take that 15 anywhere, to Calvary, to Homer,” said the coach. “Those 15 are gonna fight, I know that, and that’s what we want.

“We’re teaching them to have good character, be strong, and to bounce back. These young men are the same way in the hallway – respecting their teachers, respecting the administration, and mainly respecting the people in their households.”

Although they aren’t a polished product, the Mariners aren’t without talent, and they’re certainly not lacking guts. Anderson, who said he hates losing more than he likes winning, explained what makes him most proud.

“My guys, they’re out here trying their hardest, and I appreciate that,” he said. “I love that.”

That’s a triumph no matter what’s on the scoreboard. All who boarded the yellow dog back to Shreveport share a bond …

“It’s Mariners on three, and family on six,” said Anderson. “We’re always going to be like that.”

… and a belief.

“It’s gonna happen, sometime,” said Yancey.

“Bet,” said Peterson.

Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com

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JOURNAL SPORTS

While power points determine state playoff qualification in LHSAA sports, district play has value, and it starts this week for 10 of the 19 local football teams.

District championships don’t add to the LHSAA power point rankings but the prestige of winning a title is obvious, and each win along the way bolsters the power point total.

There are three District 1-5A games this week:  Parkway at Huntington, Captain Shreve at unbeaten Haughton and Benton at Evangel. Last week’s Evangel win over Huntington was not one of the six designated 1-5A contests this season.

In District 1-4A, Minden comes to Bossier, North DeSoto travels to meet Woodlawn, and Booker T. Washington squares off with Southwood.

A couple of games pit teams that are no longer in the same district.  Loyola dropped down to Class 3A and will visit longtime District 1-4A rival Northwood.  Calvary goes to Farmerville to play Union Parish, which is winless with a new coaching staff against a challenging early schedule.

Two 1-5A teams continue their demanding non-district schedules with appealing matchups. Texas power Pleasant Grove visits to play Byrd, and Airline hosts Franklin Parish, ranked sixth in Class 4A.

The Week 4 schedule for Shreveport-Bossier high schools:

THURSDAY’S GAMES

Parkway (2-1) at Huntington (0-3), Independence Stadium

North DeSoto (3-0) vs. Woodlawn (0-3), Leonard C. Barnes Stadium

Minden (3-0) at Bossier (1-2), Memorial Stadium

FRIDAY’S GAMES

Captain Shreve (2-1) at Haughton (3-0), Dak Prescott Field

Benton (2-1) at Evangel (1-2), Rodney Duron Field

Franklin Parish (2-1) at Airline (3-0), M.D. Ray Field

Pleasant Grove, Tex., (4-0) at Byrd (0-3), Lee Hedges Stadium

Loyola (2-1) at Northwood (1-2), Jerry Burton Stadium

Booker T. Washington (2-1) at Southwood (0-3), Independence Stadium

Calvary (3-0) at Union Parish (0-3)

Green Oaks (3-0) at Red River (0-3)

Plain Dealing (0-3) at North Caddo (0-2), Johnny Prudhomme Stadium

Beekman Charter (2-1) at Magnolia School of Excellence (0-3)

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JOURNAL SPORTS

Blowout wins kept Calvary and Loyola in this week’s Louisiana Sports Writers Association top 10 polls but no other Shreveport-Bossier teams are getting any voting support.

The Cavaliers crushed Grant’s Cougars 57-13 last Friday, while the Flyers rolled 48-12 over St. Edmund’s Blue Jays.

Calvary remains No. 1 in the Class 2A poll while Loyola stayed at No. 8 in Class 3A. Two teams above the Flyers lost but didn’t fall far — previous No. 1 St. Charles (10-7 OT loss to Class 5A Holy Cross) and previous No. 3 Jena (28-12 loss to 4A No. 1 Westgate).

Only 16 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. Karr (10), 3-0, 131, 2

2. Ruston, 2-1, 115,1

3. Alexandria, 3-0, 109, 3

4. St. Augustine, 3-0, 104, 4

5. John Curtis, 2-1, 782 6

6. Archbishop Rummel, 3-0, 80, 7

7. Acadiana, 3-0, 45, 8

8. Brother Martin, 3-0,  47, 9

9. Catholic-Baton Rouge, 1-2, 45, 5

10. Jesuit, 3-0, 22, Not ranked

Others receiving votes: St. Thomas More 15, Central 13, West Monroe 8, Ouachita 7, Mandeville 5, Barbe 3, Thibodaux 3.

Class 4A

1. Westgate (9), 3-0, 129, 1

2. North DeSoto (1), 3-0, 114, 3

3. Neville (1), 2-1, 104, 4

4. Archbishop Shaw, 2-1, 99, 2

5. Lake Charles Prep, 3-0, 91, 5

6. Franklin Parish, 2-1, 76, 7

7. Madison Prep, 1-2, 62, 6

8. John F. Kennedy, 2-1, 46, NR

9. Belle Chasse, 3-0, 36, NR

10. Cecilia, 2-1, 29, 8

Others receiving votes:  Plaquemine 27, Salmen 19, Lafayette Renaissance 7, Franklinton 3, Opelousas 3, Carencro 2, Teurlings Catholic 2, E.D. White 1

Class 3A

1. St. James (9), 3-0, 130, 2

2. St. Charles (2), 2-1, 118, 1

3. Sterlington, 2-1, 104, 4

4. Jena, 2-1, 96, 3

5. University, 1-2, 83, 6

6. Iowa, 1-2, 81, 5

7. Jewel Sumner, 2-1, 64, 7

8. Loyola, 2-1, 55, 8

9. Marksville, 3-0, 42, 9

10. Eunice, 3-0, 30, NR

Others receiving votes: Vandebilt Catholic 23, Carroll 13, Iota 4, Northwest 3, De La Salle 2, West Feliciana 1.

Class 2A

1, Calvary Baptist (9), 3-0, 130, 1

2, Dunham (2), 2-1, 120, 2

3. Notre Dame, 3-0, 113, 3

4. Mangham, 2-1, 96, 4

5. Amite, 3-0, 67, 7

6. Lafayette Christian Academy, 2-1, 55, 5

7. Oak Grove, 1-2, 53, 6

8. Catholic-New Iberia, 2-1, 51, 9

9. Mansfield, 3-0, 48, 10

10. Newman, 2-1, 27, NR

Others receiving votes: Kinder 25, Loreauville 19, West St. Mary 7, Covenant Christian 7, Country Day 4, Lake Arthur 2.

Class 1A

1. Ouachita Christian (6), 3-0, 127, 1

2. Riverside Academy (4), 3-0, 125, 2

3. Ascension Catholic, 3-0, 110, 3

4. Jeanerette, 3-0, 96, 4

5. Haynesville, 2-1, 84, 5

6. Logansport, 3-0, 72, 6

7. Southern Lab, 2-0, 65, 7

8. Kentwood, 3-0, 63, 8

9. Westminster-Lafayette, 3-0, 40, 9

10. Cedar Creek, 3-0, 35, NR

Others receiving votes: East Feliciana 20, South Plaquemines 13, Lincoln Prep 11, Westminster-Opelousas 3, Catholic-Pointe Coupee 1, St. Edmund 1.

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JOURNAL SPORTS

This week’s Independence Bowl 50th Anniversary All-Time Team reveal makes it back-to-back players from the 1999 Oklahoma Sooners.

Last week’s selection as the 13^th-ranked performer in I-Bowl history was Sooners quarterback Josh Heupel. This week’s OU star is College Football Hall of Fame safety Roy Williams making the list at number 12.

Williams, who was a redshirt freshman in 1999, started for the Sooners in the 1999 Independence Bowl. He collected six solo tackles, one tackle-for-loss and one pass breakup.

Like the Oklahoma program as a whole, Williams built off the 1999 season and Independence Bowl appearance and propelled his game to the next level. He was yet again a starter in 2000 and helped lead the Sooners to a BCS National Championship and an undefeated season. He set the Oklahoma defensive back record for TFL in a season with 12, and he was named first-team All-Big 12.

Williams’ 2001 season, his junior year, was his finest in Norman. Among the long list of awards he won are the Bronko Nagurski Trophy – awarded to the top defensive player in the country – and the Jim Thorpe Award as the best defensive back in the nation. He was also named a unanimous All-American and the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. 

Williams was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2022 – alongside fellow Independence Bowl alum Kevin Faulk (LSU – 1995 and 1997) and Gary Pinkel (Missouri – 2003, 2005 and 2011).

After forgoing his senior year in Norman, Williams was selected eighth overall in the first round of the 2002 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys, and he quickly became known as one of the league’s hardest-hitting safeties. Williams brought back two pick-sixes in his rookie season in 2002, tying the Cowboys’ single-season record for interceptions returned for touchdowns. He finished as the runner-up for NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and made the Pro Football Writers Association All-Rookie Team.

The 2003 season was the best of Williams’ pro career, as he made his lone appearance on the All-Pro team – a first-team nod – and was named to the Pro Bowl for the first of five consecutive times. His stellar season helped lead Dallas to the NFL’s top-ranked defense and to their first playoff appearance since 1999. 

Williams ended up playing nine seasons in the NFL – seven seasons for the Cowboys and two for the Cincinnati Bengals. Over his NFL career, he compiled 471 solo tackles, 601 total tackles, 20 interceptions, 58 pass deflections, nine forced fumbles, 11 fumble recoveries, 24 TFL, 7.5 sacks, and three touchdowns. He made the Pro Bowl every year between 2003 and 2007.

The next player on the Independence Bowl’s 50th Anniversary All-Time Team, No. 11, will be released next Monday, September 28. Players will be unveiled individually every week, with No. 1 being announced on Monday, December 7.

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

No. 13 – Josh Heupel (QB, Oklahoma, 1999); 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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Phonetic: /an·​o·​dyne/

Part of Speech: Adjective

Definition

serving to alleviate pain

the anodyne properties of certain drugs

2

not likely to offend or arouse tensions : innocuous

… his speech contained a single anodyne reference to the man who preceded him.—John F. Burns

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Bossier Parish Secures $25 Million Federal Grant for Long-Planned East-West Corridor
U.S. Department of Transportation, Bossier Parish Police Jury

After more than two decades of planning, Bossier Parish has secured a $25 million federal BUILD grant to advance construction on the parish’s long-planned East-West Corridor. The grant will fund the extension of Winfield Road directly to Benton Road, establishing a continuous east-west route north of Interstate 220 designed to relieve commuter congestion, improve regional connectivity, and strengthen access to Barksdale Air Force Base. The overall corridor represents a $54 million investment. The award will cover final engineering, environmental permitting, and right-of-way acquisition. Road construction is expected to take three to five years once those steps are complete.

Shreveport Woman Shot While Driving on I-20 Saturday Morning
Shreveport Police Department

A woman was shot and critically injured Saturday morning while driving east on Interstate 20 near Greenwood Road in Shreveport. Police say the woman had just picked up her grandson from work at the nearby Amazon facility when multiple shots were fired into her vehicle from another car. She pulled over and her grandson took over driving before the vehicle stalled near I-49 and Hollywood Avenue. Shreveport firefighters transported her to Ochsner LSU Health with life-threatening injuries. The suspect was last seen in a gray older model Nissan. No arrests have been made. Anyone with information is asked to contact Shreveport Police or Shreveport-Caddo Crime Stoppers at 318-673-7373.

Shreveport Receives Fluoride Shipment; Water Fluoridation to Resume
City of Shreveport

The City of Shreveport has received a shipment of fluoride, ending a weeks-long gap in water fluoridation caused by a nationwide shortage. The city stopped adding fluoride to its municipal water supply in late August after exhausting its supply. Fluoridation is expected to resume shortly as crews process the new supply. The water met all state and federal health and safety standards throughout the shortage period.

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JOURNAL STAFF

Craig Poleman was the winner by tiebreaker of $100 in the Shreveport-Bossier Journal High School Football Pick ‘Em Contest.

There’s another $100 prize on the line.  You have until Thursday afternoon at 4 to enter this week’s contest. Anyone has the chance to win the $100 prize as the week’s top predictor of High School football games.

Participation is very simple. Just click on this link:

The Pick ‘Em portal opens to a menu of game-by-game matchups, with easy click-to-pick winning teams for each contest. One game will be used as a tiebreaker, with participants predicting the total points scored in that game. The one with the closest total to the actual total without going over would be the winner of a tiebreaker – if needed!

It takes 20-30 seconds to select your weekly picks!

Each week the picking will remain until 4 p.m. on Thursdays.

One person will win each week’s $100 prize, to be announced in the Journal early the following week as the next Pick ‘Em Contest launches.

All contest decisions by SBJ management are final.

Every participant will receive a FREE subscription to the Journal if you are not already signed up for the easily navigated, convenient 6:55 a.m. daily e-mail.

Enjoy it all, for FREE, and enter each week’s contest. You could collect $100, maybe more than once!

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Week 4 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. 25, 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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Phonetic: /cal·​um·​ny/

Part of Speech: Noun

Definition

a misrepresentation intended to harm another’s reputation
denounced his opponent for his defamatory insinuations and calumny

the act of uttering false charges or misrepresentations maliciously calculated to harm another’s reputation
He was the target of calumny for his unpopular beliefs.

The Puzzles are now found in the Daily Sweep each day.

a

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North Louisiana Crime Lab Deploys New DNA Analysis Software
North Louisiana Crime Laboratory, Shreveport Police Department

The North Louisiana Crime Laboratory in Shreveport has begun using new DNA analysis software designed to help forensic scientists solve cases more quickly and accurately. The software uses advanced algorithms to analyze and compare DNA profiles from evidence samples, potentially accelerating processing times in criminal investigations across Caddo, Bossier, and surrounding parishes. Lab officials say the technology will help address backlogs and improve the quality of forensic evidence available to prosecutors.

Funeral Services Announced for Calvary Baptist Coach Virgil Williams
Calvary Baptist School, Rose-Neath Funeral Home

Funeral services have been announced for Virgil “Vee” Williams, 35, the beloved defensive backs coach at Calvary Baptist School who died in a car crash Sept. 15. Williams, a former standout at Evangel Christian Academy and Southern University, was remembered across the Shreveport football community as a dedicated coach and mentor. Services are scheduled at Rose-Neath Funeral Home in Shreveport; details are available directly through the funeral home. The Calvary Baptist football program and the broader ArkLaTex athletic community continue to mourn his passing.

Caddo Coroner Identifies Man Found Dead at Downtown Shreveport Hotel
Caddo Parish Coroner’s Office, Shreveport Police Department

The Caddo Parish Coroner’s Office has identified the man found dead early Monday morning at the Holiday Inn Express and Suites in downtown Shreveport. Additional details on the cause and manner of death are expected from the coroner’s office as the investigation continues. Shreveport Police are investigating.

Centenary College Continues Constitution Day Celebrations with Campus Events This Week
Centenary College of Louisiana

Centenary College of Louisiana is continuing its celebration of the 239th anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution with a series of campus events this week. Constitution Day, observed Sept. 17, commemorates the signing of the document on September 17, 1787. Centenary’s events are open to students and faculty and are designed to promote civic engagement and constitutional literacy as the November 3 election approaches.

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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Phonetic: /ur·​bane/

Part of Speech: Adjective

Definition

notably polite or polished in manner

an urbane diplomat

fashionable and somewhat formal

the hotel’s urbane sophistication

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Play Sudoku online!

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Natchitoches Christmas is pleased to announce that LSU Women’s Basketball Head Coach Kim Mulkey will serve as Celebrity Captain of the 2026 Natchitoches Christmas “Festival of Lights” Parade on Saturday, December 5, in downtown Natchitoches.

Mulkey will help lead the 1 p.m. parade as Natchitoches celebrates the 100th Natchitoches Christmas Festival, marking a century of one of Louisiana’s most beloved holiday traditions.

Her appearance comes during a special weekend for women’s basketball in Natchitoches. The LSU Tigers will face the Northwestern State Lady Demons on Sunday, December 6, at Prather Coliseum on the campus of Northwestern State University.

“We are incredibly excited to welcome Coach Mulkey and the LSU Women’s Basketball team to Natchitoches during such a historic year for our Christmas Festival,” said Sandra Dickens, Natchitoches Christmas Board Chair. “When we learned LSU would be in Natchitoches for the game against Northwestern State, we knew this was a unique opportunity. Coach Mulkey is one of the most recognizable figures in Louisiana sports, and having her help lead our parade as we celebrate 100 years of Christmas makes an already special weekend even more memorable.”

Mulkey also shares a special connection with Natchitoches through the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame, where she was inducted in 1990 following her standout playing career at Louisiana Tech. The Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame is housed at the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest Louisiana History Museum in downtown Natchitoches.

A native of Tickfaw, Louisiana, Mulkey has built one of the most accomplished careers in college basketball. She is the only person in college basketball history, men’s or women’s, to win national championships as a player, assistant coach and head coach. As a player at Louisiana Tech, Mulkey helped the Lady Techsters capture national championships in 1981 and 1982 and later helped the program win another national title as an assistant coach in 1988. As a head coach, she won three NCAA national championships at Baylor before returning to Louisiana to lead LSU, where she guided the Tigers to the program’s first NCAA Women’s Basketball National Championship in 2023.

“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to lead the historic Natchitoches Christmas ‘Festival of Lights’ parade as the state of Louisiana celebrates this great tradition for the 100th time,” Mulkey said. “I’m always looking to give back to the state I love whenever I can. The opportunity presented itself, and I accepted. I look forward to seeing everyone on December 5 and, once more, at Prather Coliseum on December 6. We are excited to make our time in Natchitoches a memorable one.”

The December 6 matchup will bring LSU Women’s Basketball to Northwestern State’s Prather Coliseum, adding another major event to Natchitoches’ centennial Christmas weekend. Natchitoches Christmas also extends its appreciation to Northwestern State Head Coach Alan Frey, who helped make Coach Mulkey’s participation possible by personally extending the invitation for her to serve as Celebrity Captain.

“Bringing an elite program here to play us is exciting enough, but having Coach Mulkey agree to be the Celebrity Captain in Saturday’s parade makes this an unforgettable weekend for Natchitoches basketball fans,” Frey said. “I want to thank Kim for saying yes to the ask and giving our community a great show on the parade route before our historic matchup on Sunday.”

The 2026 Natchitoches Christmas “Festival of Lights” Parade will begin at 1 p.m. Saturday, December 5, traveling from the Northwestern State University campus through the Natchitoches Historic District.

The parade is part of the 100th Natchitoches Christmas Festival, which will feature a full day of activities in downtown Natchitoches, including entertainment, arts and crafts, food vendors and the festival’s signature fireworks celebration over Cane River Lake.

For additional information about the 100th Natchitoches Christmas Festival, visit NatchitochesChristmas.com.

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LSMSA’s Statement regarding Lacaze arrest.

September 15, 2026

The LSMSA Board of Directors is aware of the recent arrest of former LSMSA employee Anthony “Thorn” Lacaze by the Louisiana State Police on charges including three counts of indecent behavior with a juvenile, three counts of contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile, production of child sexual abuse material, and felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile.  This arrest has caused hurt and raised questions for our Eagle family.  Although we do not know whether Mr. Lacaze’s recent arrest is related to his employment at LSMSA, which ended in 2020, we are deeply disturbed by the charges and want to be transparent in informing our stakeholders about LSMSA’s reporting of sexual harassment allegations against him in the summer of 2020.

• Upon receipt of reports of sexual harassment by Thorn Lacaze, LSMSA immediately opened investigations of the allegations.
• On June 24, 2020, Dr. Steve Horton notified the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of the receipt of complaints of sexual harassment against Thorn Lacaze.  The Board of Directors unanimously passed a motion that authorized and instructed Dr. Steve Horton and Board Chair Mrs. Sharon Gahagan to contact the Natchitoches Parish District Attorney and, furthermore, to instruct Dr. Horton to contact the Louisiana Office of Risk Management regarding said matter.
• On June 25, 2020, Dr. Horton and Mrs. Gahagan formally reported the allegations of sexual harassment made against Thorn Lacaze to Natchitoches Parish District Attorney Billy Joe Harrington and Natchitoches Parish Sheriff Stuart Wright.
• On September 15, 2020, Dr. Horton provided comprehensive files related to each investigation to District Attorney Billy Joe Harrington and Natchitoches Parish Sheriff Stuart Wright.  
• The District Attorney and Natchitoches Parish Sheriff then forwarded those files to the Louisiana State Police.

LSMSA will continue to cooperate fully with all law enforcement agencies regarding this matter.  LSMSA has a zero-tolerance policy towards any form of sexual abuse or criminal sexual acts against any members of our campus community. We want to assure all stakeholders that matters involving said behavior are not taken lightly, and we shall be diligent in the investigative process in accordance with applicable law.

We understand that moments of concern can create uncertainty for students, alumni, parents, faculty, staff, and supporters who care deeply about LSMSA and its future. As the governing body of the school, the Board recognizes its responsibility to provide oversight, ensure accountability, and support decisions that advance the best interests of the institution and the students it serves. 

The Board of Directors and LSMSA administration stand firmly with our students, past, present, and future, and wishes to reiterate our unwavering commitment to the mission, integrity, and long-term strength of LSMSA.

Sincerely,

Dr. Jason Anderson
Executive Director

Natchitoches man arrested for indecent behavior with juveniles

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Bossier City Man Killed in I-20 Crash Tuesday Morning
Louisiana State Police Troop G

A Bossier City man was killed early Tuesday morning following a two-vehicle crash on Interstate 20. Louisiana State Police Troop G is investigating. Additional details on the identity of the victim and the circumstances of the crash are expected from LSP as the investigation continues.

Shreveport-Bossier Celebrates Great American Defense Community Designation This Week
Association of Defense Communities, Greater Shreveport Chamber, Bossier Chamber of Commerce

Shreveport-Bossier — one of only three communities in the nation named a 2026 Great American Defense Community — kicks off its official celebration today with a Military Leadership Luncheon at 11:30 a.m. at Margaritaville Resort Casino. A Community Filming Day is set for Friday, Sept. 18, with an American Defense Communities film crew documenting the region. The celebration concludes Saturday, Sept. 19, with a Great American Defense Community flag ceremony at 2 p.m. during the 22nd annual Highland Jazz and Blues Festival at Columbia Park. The designation recognizes the region’s deep connection to Barksdale Air Force Base and its support for more than 3,600 military-connected students in Caddo and Bossier parish schools.

Shreve Memorial Library Hosts Voter Registration Drives Next Week
September 17, 2026 | Shreve Memorial Library, Caddo Parish Registrar of Voters
Shreve Memorial Library is partnering with the Caddo Parish Registrar of Voters to host voter registration drives at branches across Caddo Parish Sept. 21-25 as part of Louisiana’s Secretary of State Voter Registration Week. Residents can register to vote or update their address at the following branches:

Monday, Sept. 21 — Wallette Branch, 363 Hearne Ave.; Hollywood/Union Avenue Branch, 2105 Hollywood Ave.; Cedar Grove-Line Avenue Branch, 8303 Line Ave.

Tuesday, Sept. 22 — West Shreveport Branch, 4380 Pines Road; Hamilton/South Caddo Branch, 2111 Bert Kouns Industrial Loop; Broadmoor Branch, 1212 Captain Shreve Drive.

Wednesday, Sept. 23 — North Caddo Branch, 615 North Pine St., Vivian; North Shreveport Branch, 4844 North Market St.; Hollywood/Union Avenue Branch, 2105 Hollywood Ave.

Thursday, Sept. 24 — Wallette Branch, 363 Hearne Ave.; Hollywood/Union Avenue Branch, 2105 Hollywood Ave.; Cedar Grove-Line Avenue Branch, 8303 Line Ave.

Friday, Sept. 25 — Atkins Branch, 3704 Greenwood Road; Hamilton/South Caddo Branch, 2111 Bert Kouns Industrial Loop; Broadmoor Branch, 1212 Captain Shreve Drive.

To register, bring proof of age, residency, and identity. Registrants must be U.S. citizens, Louisiana residents, and at least 17 years old.

By JOHN JAMES MARSHALL, Journal Sports

Have a conversation with Green Oaks coach Nick Peoples about his team’s 2-0 start and you’ll quickly notice the thing he’s least likely to talk about are topics that don’t have anything to do with what’s working for the Giants offense or some kind of new defensive strategy.

Instead, he will liberally sprinkle in words that you’d most likely hear from a motivational speaker.

Maturity.

Discipline.

Mindset.

Organization.

And just for the heck of it, he might even throw in a Biblical verse.

So much for trying to get specific details about the Giants’ great start.

Then again, maybe those are the keys.

“We are just making sure we are stacking our days together, one percent a day at a time,” the second-year coach said. “Once we do that it’ll equal up to 100% before we know it. We are just making sure that we’re continuing our standard of being disciplined, making good choices as young men and as athletes and making sure that we’re having fun and playing hard.”

There you have it.  Nowhere in there was any discussion of zone reads and weakside blitzes.

But something is obviously working as the Giants have outscored their two opponents by a combined 88-12.

Now comes the biggest test so far – the 2-0 Booker T. Washington Lions. The two teams will meet in the annual “Soul Bowl” at Leonard C. Barnes Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

It’s a game that means a lot to a lot of people but Peoples is cautious with his team to not make it too big. Could it be a situation in which the Giants focus too much on this game and lose sight of the rest of their schedule?

“Oh, no, that’s not an issue,” he said. “I know it’s a special game, but it’s just another game on our list that we have to check off in order to reach our goals. I’ve just been kind of trying to convey that message of, ‘Hey guys, I know it’s our rival. I know it’s a big game, but we have to do this in order to accomplish our ultimate goal for the season.’”

It’s always a step up in classification for the Giants, a 2A school, against the Class 4A Lions but it’s just another challenge for Green Oaks. Peoples feels that his team has shown it has what takes after a 3-7 season last year.

“I’ve noticed maturity,” he said. “The majority of the guys that are playing on the field now, have played since they were freshmen. So just being able to see them grow as men and grow with changes to attitudes and changes in character and just having those morals and values. That maturity is the biggest thing.”

But there has been more to it than just maturity. “I would say organization and discipline.” Peoples said. “It’s by the way that we do things; how our sideline looks, the way the players run on and off the field and the way that we execute plays.”

Just don’t ask Peoples if he is surprised by what he has seen so far in 2026.

“I can’t use the word surprised, because surprise is when you don’t have expectations,” he said. “I would say it’s more like I’m the teacher and I’m grading the tests. So far, I’m more proud of them being able to pass the test by not having turnovers and being able to score.”

Peoples likes to use the teaching analogy because he’s not all that wild about the title of head coach. He was an assistant for four years at Green Oaks before taking over the top spot. He’s been learning as much as the players have.

“I’ve taken things from everyone I’ve worked with to become a head coach,” the 32-year old Peoples said. “There’s a saying in the Bible that fools despise wisdom. I’ve relied a lot on my mentors. One of the best pieces of advice I got was ‘make this team into what you know it to can be. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel. Just take it and make it your own.’ Even as an assistant, I’ve always prepared myself as if I was the head coach of the positions I coached.”

Contact JJ at johnjamesmarshall@yahoo.com

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JOURNAL SPORTS

The season didn’t start as planned for Captain Shreve and Northwood, making the Gators vs. Falcons matchup tonight at Jerry Burton Stadium especially valuable.

Both teams are 1-1. It’s the only Thursday night game on the local Week 3 schedule, which wraps up Saturday with the 53^rd Annual Soul Bowl pitting unbeatens Green Oaks and Booker T. Washington.

Northwood opened with an upset loss at home, 34-26, to Benton, then rallied on the road last week for a 28-22 win at West Ouachita. Shreve was stunned in its opener, 55-34 by Loyola, but recovered convincingly last week by blasting Bastrop 51-6.

Both teams are retooling after significant graduation classes departed.

The always explosive Gators attack masterminded by third-year Shreve coach Jeremy Wilburn feature a dynamic receiving combo with Chris Hill and Kaleb Law, and an explosive running back pair in Gabe Lockett and Jacovon Watson. They meet District 1-5A foes Haughton, Evangel and Parkway in the next three weeks.

Northwood’s veteran coach Austin Brown, whose Falcons were 18-5 combined in the past two seasons, has an offense led by running backs Justin Dupree and D’Corious Douglas. They have a daunting stretch of upcoming games against Loyola, North DeSoto, and Booker T. Washington, all 2-0 so far. The North DeSoto game kicks off the District 1-4A schedule.

Brown and Wilburn are former graduate assistant coaches at Northwestern State.

Week 3 high school football games involving local schools:

TONIGHT’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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Last night drove it home. I’m apparently an old fuddy duddy.

My knees have been telling me that for a few years, but it was never so obvious than when surfing between channels during the 10 o’clock newscasts, I scanned the late night TV show guest lists.

Looked like some of that AI-produced imagery that I see on my social media. Bizarre is an inadequate description.

The actress H.E.R. 

W.H.O? I saw THE actress, Sandra Bullock, on with Fallon earlier this week. This ain’t her.

The singer LISA.

I moaned when I saw LISA listed. Long ago I was told if you text or write in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS it might reflect emphasis (which I hope is true, as someone who occasionally – see above – will do that) but moreso it indicates anger. I am not angry that I have no idea who LISA is or what she sings. Give me Kelly Clarkson or Lady Gaga, Beyonce’ or our very own Lainey Wilson.

The actor Common.

Is he acting like a common man? Is that the schtick? I wouldn’t book a common actor as a guest on a TV show and I surely won’t watch him. A night earlier, Kimmel hosted Stephen Colbert, and shaved Colbert’s beard after his pal collected seven Emmys Monday to punctuate his forced exit from network TV. 

I assume these oddly named characters are accomplished performers. I didn’t waste my time. They were motivation to turn to Scott Van Pelt and what is about the last vestige of the ESPN we once loved, his nightly SportsCenter show.

I’m no fan of so much that ESPN airs or how they do it. What used to be a network with sports substance is now serving up content that centers on studio hosts screaming and scheming. As far as the quality of event coverage, it’s eroding. Recent example: a consummate pro, Karl Ravech, ushered out of the used-to-be-Worldwide Leader’s stable of on-air talent in a decision that had nothing to do with talent or excellence, but as in canning Colbert, had everything to do with cost-cutting.

Despite what a lot of conservatives believe, it wasn’t Colbert’s political angle that got him. It was CBS’s aversion to big budget late night programming. Or, for that matter, a great Sunday evening newsmagazine, considering what was done to 60 Minutes in the offseason.

It’s all about money, just as the interest rate moved up, and if you didn’t notice, gas prices zoomed up by a half-dollar or so in the last couple days.

Get a Tiger filling up the tank. LSU’s got a football player payroll well over $40 million, before incentives. Next year they’re saying it’s sailing over $60 million.

Then toss in coaching salaries. If Lane Kiffin is playing by the rules and there’s only a 25 percent or less chance that Sam Leavitt’s banged up shoulder won’t keep him out of Saturday night’s showdown with Ole Miss, then the magician known as Charlie Weis Jr., the Tigers’ offensive coordinator, will earn that $2.5 million annual salary.

But we all know Lane Kiffin plays … for keeps. Gotta be gamesmanship, right?

Most of us are fascinated to watch the Portal King’s return to Oxford, where he made the turn from babyface to heel almost as fast as Hulk Hogan.

There aren’t many worse breakups. Brad Pitt is on the list twice, with Jennifer Anniston, and Angelina Jolie. Kanye and Kim? Affleck and Lopez (twice!).

George Steinbrenner and Billy Martin – five times the Yankee owner fired the Yankee manager.

The Colts and Baltimore. Tommy Tuberville and Texas Tech. Belichick and the Patriots. Belichick and Jordon Hudson (inevitably).

Kim Mulkey and Louisiana Tech, or at least, longtime Tech president Dan Reneau. She loves Ruston. Loves many people at Tech. Is immensely proud of her time playing and assistant coaching there. But will not take her team to play at her alma mater because she got left at the altar when Leon Barmore called it a career, and Reneau would not give her a fifth year on a head coaching contract.

Sometime sooner than too late, Kim’s going to put that to rest. The Ole Miss folks are never, ever, ever exchanging pleasantries with Lane Kiffin.

See if there’s even a handshake, let alone a brief conversation in pregame warmups between Kiffin and his former defensive coordinator, now the Rebels’ head man, Hammond native Pete Golding.

If there is, would that be a sign to the Ole Miss crowd to keep the peace? Or should Golding not be sportsmanlike, for his own sake, because it would it further tick them off?

I’ll rely on Van Pelt to let me know. Whatever happens, it’s going to be great to have it in the rearview mirror.

Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com

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