WEEK 1 Oct 1, 2020

Game of The Week

#6 Bastrop Rams (0-0) @ Carroll Bulldogs (0-0)

It’s been a long time, but we finally have football in northeast Louisiana. What better way to kick off an interrupted season than to see the rematch of the Bulldogs and Rams. Last season the Rams took advantage of a strong second half to defeat the ‘Dogs in Morehouse Parish and coach Alex Washington’s bunch has had this date circled on their calendars. The ‘Dogs lost a ton of talent to graduation and replacing seniors like Cedric Woods, Montrel Jones, Jackie Wallace, and Ladarrius Mcee won’t be an easy task but I like the direction the program is heading on Renwick. This year’s group will feature returning starting quarterback, Tony Hollins and senior WR Emonte Brown. They’ll be asked to generate points for a Bulldog offense that averaged nearly 27ppg in 2019. Anthony Greely will try to fill the void left by Jones and that won’t be an easy task considering the senior accounted for nearly 1200 yards of total yards for the ‘Dogs. However, the staple for this Bulldogs team will be their defense. Senior LB Derrick “Duke” Conner leads a young but talented defense into battle in 2020 and will get a true test in their first game. Aeneas Roberts and Kenderick Carter are very skilled defensive backs that can shut down opposing passing attacks but their inexperience will come into play? We shall see.

Bastrop made a remarkable run in 2019 before falling in the quarterfinals to Lakeshore. In just his second year at Bastrop, coach Cedric Sherrod has his team trending upwards are a recent decline. The Rams haven’t reached the Dome since 2008 and they’re itching to make a return. Led by dynamic, do-it-all wideout, Jabez Thompson the Rams will look to outscore their opponents early and often. The speedster led the Rams in nearly every statistical category and is threat to score every time he touches the ball. Semaji Tennant mans the other side of the field for the Rams and in 2019, it seems that any ball that Thompson didn’t grab he would. QB Zy Scott returns for his campaign and is a key piece in the Rams plans for 2020. He played in a reserve role in 2019 but came up huge when the Rams on him. Scott threw for over 1,100 yards and 12 TDs in just 5 starts for the Rams. The defense will be led by senior DBs Denim Hill and Melvin Brandley who combined for 101 tackles and 6 interceptions a year ago. Super sophomore, Lance Heard could also play a huge role for the Rams if he can improve as the season progresses. The 6’5 10th grader is already garnering attention from colleges and with his size and athleticism everyone should see why.

Last year’s 52-28 score was not a good indicator of how good or bad either team was. After a very close 1st half the Rams benefited from some horrendous weather and capitalized on some costly Carroll mistakes to get the win. This year, even though both teams loss some key contributors, I’m still expecting a great game. I’m expecting Coach Washington to implore a more ball-control style game plan centered around a great running game and a strong defense. On the other hand, the Rams will look to get the ball to their playmakers in space. This game has the makings of a thriller and whoever can dictate tempo will come out victorious. In this case, I think the Bulldogs secondary will be up for the challenge and come away with a timely interception to seal the deal. Carroll starts off in style.

Carroll 20 Bastrop 14

*** Grissom’s Star of The Game ***

TONY HOLLINS – 12/17 175 YARDS, 1TD – 13 CARRIES, 110 YARDS, 2 TD

#1 Neville Tigers (0-0) VS Leesville Wampus Cats (0-0)

It’s always a treat when you get to see 2 teams that traditionally never play in the regular season. In week one we’ll get that when Leesville travels to Neville on Friday. The Wampus Cats will travel to Monroe and face the Tigers in a matchup that was just contracted days ago. After a Covid-19 precaution caused Neville’s original opponent, Ouachita, to bow out of the game, Neville’s coach Jeff Tannehill was left scrambling to find someone to play. In comes Leesville to save the day. The Wampus Cats return a good nucleus of athletes from their 2nd round team of 2019 and will pose just a big a threat as Ouachita would have. Led by senior QB Jacob Mount the Cats will utilize a multiple offense attack that gives defenses some spread as well as I-formation. They’re just as much to pass as they are to run. Mount threw for over 2000 yards and 20 TDs in 2019. RB/WR Caleb Gallashaw adds punch to the offense with his versatility and quickness. In 2019, Gallashaw gained 1000 yards on the ground and 450 through the air.

Butterflies have to be moving around in Coach Jeff Tannehill’s stomach this week. After prepping all pre-season for Ouachita he now has to scrap that gameplan and adjust for his new opponent. Tannehill will also be making his Neville debut after taking over for future Hall of Fame coach Mickey McCarty, who stepped down this summer. Tannehill will have ample amount of talent as he leads his team onto the field on Friday. A running back corp that consists of Tim Byrd, AJ Allen and Lane Blue give the Tigers a trio of rushers that will wear out any defense. Junior QB Brett Batteford will get his chance as full-time starter after the departure of Andrew Brister and he has all the tools needed to operate Neville’s vaunted balanced attack. As usual the strength of the Tigers defense lies in the trenches where returning starters Myron Elam, Dexter Walker and Samari Wright will be asked to set the tempo.

There’s a phrase, “Out of the frying pan and into the fire!” that fits the matchup for the Tigers. Losing a traditional opponent like Ouachita surely hurts but where some teams would postpone all together the Tigers opted to find a way and not an easy way. In 2019, Leesville cruised to an undefeated season until finally falling to Warren Easton in the semi-finals. The core of that team returns and are primed for another long run in 2020. Neville has some huge shoes to fill within the defensive secondary where they lost 4 starters but a deep front 7 will give them all the help they’ll need in order to get ready. Mound and Gallashaw will be too seasoned to shut down so I’m expecting a few scores by the visitors but the best way to stop them will be to keep them off the field and the Tigers ground game will do just that. Leesville boasts a tremendous defensive line and while the Tigers offensive line is a bit inexperienced Allen and Byrd will get behind their All-American OT Will Campbell and gash the Wampus Cats. Tigers go to 1-0.

Neville 34 Leesville 20

*** Grissom’s Star Of The Game ***

Timothy Byrd & Aj Allen – 305 Combined Rushing Yards, 4TDs

Other Games:

5A

#2 Ruston 31 Airline 14

#3 West Monroe 28 Carencro 21

West Ouachita 35 Vidalia 13

3A

#10 Union Parish 42 Rayville 15

#9 Sterlington 28 Oak Grove 20

Baker 21 Wossman 14

2A

#5 Ferriday 55 Sicily Island 8

Madison Parish 8 Lincoln Prep 6

Delhi Charter 33 Delhi 12

St Fred’s 41 Beekman Charter 12

Mangham 30 Lakeside 14

1A

#8 Ocs 21 Jena 20

Sicily Island 12 Lasalle 8

Jonesboro-Hodge 13 Delta Charter 6

Plain Dealing 35 Tensas 14