Monroe Dispatch - No Struggle, No Progress

WEEK 2 Oct. 8, 2020

RECORD: OVERALL 10-5 FEATURED GAMES 1-0

GAME OF THE WEEK

#1 NEVILLE TIGERS (0-0) @ #2 RUSTON BEARCATS (1-0)

I’ve had this game circled on my calendar since realizing that we would actually have a prep football season. Rarely do you the chance to see a #1 vs #2 matchup in week 2, but this week we’ll get just that. Ruston was as good as advertised in week 1, blowing away a very good Airline team by the score of 48-14. All-everything RB Keytravion Hargrove lived up to his billing as the #2 player in the area with a 3 TD performance in which he only played 2 quarters before suffering a lower leg injury. Senior RB Deontrae Griffin also reached pay-dirt 2 times after compiling over 120 yards on the ground. The Bearcats defense was also on point creating 4 turnovers while shutting the Airline offense in the first half.

Over on Forsythe the #1 team in the area, Neville was toying with their opponent as well. The Tigers scored on their very first play of the 2020 season on a 78 yard scamper by senior RB Tim Byrd. From that point on Leesville knew they were in for a long night. Byrd would tack on another long score to finish his night with 136 yards on just 4 carries. AJ Allen would also join in the fun with 115 yards on the ground which included a 40 yard 3rd qtr score. The Tigers D came away with two timely interceptions when junior LB Henton Roberts snagged one to end a first quarter drive and junior safety Jaylon Blackson picked off another in the endzone on a 2nd qtr drive for Leesville.

From the looks of it, these teams are about as similar as 2 teams can be. Neville uses the spread while Ruston has gone under center, but either way the goal is to run the ball down opponent’s throats. Both teams have multiple options at the RB spot with unique skillsets as well as QBs that can use their arms and wheels. This game probably won’t take too long because there will be a ton of running. However, early word from Lincoln Parish is that Hargrove may be out due to his injury. That type of loss can’t easily be replaced and even though Griffin is more than capable of carrying the load, Ruston needs Hargrove to beat a team like Neville. In a low-scoring slugfest the Tiger defense gets a late goaline stop & defeat the Bearcats.

Neville 20 Ruston 14

*** Grissom’s Star of The Game ***

Lane Blue – 11 Tackles, 1 Forced Fumble, 1 Rushing TD

#4 Ouachita Lions (0-0) Vs #6 Union Parish Farmers (1-0) (Saturday)

Another Top 10 matchup will occur when the Union Parish Farmers face Ouachita Friday night at the Lion’s Den. Union made quick waste of their week 1 opponent, Rayville with a convincing 62-12 win. Grissom’s #6 rated player, Trey Holly was business as usual with a huge game. The sophomore rushed for 184 yards on 17 carries with 3 scores. Breaking in a new QB is never easy, but junior signal caller, Cole Dison successfully filled in for former two-year starter, Trent Ginn, who recently transferred schools. The Farmers run game accounted for 350 yards of offense with 8 total TDs. Freshman Jordan Hill chipped in with 31 yards & a score on just 4 totes.

The Ouachita Lions had to postpone their opening game vs Neville due to Covid-19 restrictions, but are set to take the field on Friday. The Lions have one of the most talented teams in the area and are looking to make a championship run in 2020. Led by senior QB Zac Shaw, Ouachita will utilize a multi-faceted offense that can give opposing teams fits. Senior WRs Dearrio Jacobs and Jacoby Conner are Shaw’s primary targets in the spread attack and both do well in both the receiving game as well as the running game. Their big frames allow them to serve as exterior blockers for senior RB Boris Richard who has breakout season written all over him. Defensively, junior LB Carmycah Glass will be asked to stop the vaunted Farmer rushing attack which has been proven hard to do. Although Union won’t throw it much, look for junior DB Jaylen Kincaid to capitalize on any throws in his area.

Last year the Lions scratched back on a late 4th quarter TD to beat Union in Farmerville. In that game, all the big named players had major impacts on the game. While only a freshman, Holly torched the Lions for 160 yards and 2 TDs, but a 4th quarter TD toss from Shaw to Jacobs, followed by an interception by Kincaid would put the Lions ahead for good. Union will try to shrink this game and keep it between the hashes by using Holly as much as possible, but the defensive minded Jeff Fitzgerald will be focused on containing Holly. Last season, the Farmers used a defensive game plan designed to make the Lions pass the ball and it nearly worked. Had it not been for a negated pick-6, Union probably goes on to win that game. I wouldn’t expect Coach Joey Spatafora to underestimate Shaw this year though. This game has the makings to be another thriller that will be decided late in the 4th quarter, but when things are this close, I tend to favor the team with more depth and more talent. Union will be hard to beat in 3A but knocking off this loaded Lions bunch will be an insurmountable task, especially on Milhaven Rd. Glass leads the way, but Kincaid seals the deal with a pick-6 of his own. Lions win!

OUACHITA 34 UNION PARISH 23

*** Grissom’s Star of The Game ***

Jaylen Kincaid- 6 Tackles, 2 Interceptions, 1 Td

Other Games:

5A

#8 West Monroe 45 Evangel 14

West Ouachita 41 Lakeside 14

4A

Franklin Parish 45 Lasalle 12

#5 Bastrop 34 Richwood 26

3A

Wossman 27 Booker T Washington 13

Sterlington 20 North Webster 6 (Thursday)

Caldwell 41 River Oaks 7 (Thursday)

Huntington 27 Carroll 20 (Thursday)

2A

#10 General Trass 40 Madison Parish 12

#4 Ferriday 53 Rayville 18

1A

#8 OCS 49 Sicily Island 6

#9 Oak Grove 35 Delta Charter 6

Cedar Creek 23 Delhi 13

St Fred’s 30 Tensas 8

GRISSOM’S G.O.AT. OF THE WEEK

Week 1

(Offensive)

Timothy Byrd

-Neville Tigers-

4 Carries, 136 Yards, 2 TD

Grissom’s G.O.At. Of The Week

Week 1

(Defensive)

Kobe Johnson

-Ferriday Trojans-

10 Tackles, 1 Sack, 1 Forced Fumble

GRISSOM’S TOP 10

WEEK 2

1. Neville Tigers (1-0)

2. Ruston Bearcats (1-0)

3. Ferriday Trojans (1-0)

4. Ouachita Lions (0-0)

5. Bastrop Rams (1-0)

6. Union Parish Farmers (1-0)

7. O.C.S. Eagles (1-0)

8. West Monroe Rebs (0-1)

9. Oak Grove Tigers (1-0)

10. General Trass Panthers (1-0)

Just Missed It: Wossman, Mangham, Carroll, St Fred’s, Franklin Parish, Sterlington, Delhi