Monroe Dispatch - No Struggle, No Progress

Week 3 - Oct. 15, 2020

Weekly Record: 13-4 Overall 23-9 Featured Games 1-2

GAME OF THE WEEK

#6 Neville Tigers (1-1) @ #7 West Monroe Rebs (1-1)

The entire Neville Nation is probably still trying to figure out what happened a week ago. Leading 21-0 at the half, Neville's defense had stymied the Bearcats running game and were poised to improve to 2-0 but as fate would have it a series of untimely events would derail the Tigers. Three consecutive 4th quarter fumbles by Neville allowed Ruston to tie the game in regulation and send the game in overtime. After a TD pass from Brett Batteford to Ben Crawford in first OT the Neville defense would stuff Ruston on their first three downs setting up an almost improbable 4th and Goal from the 46-yard line. Needless to say improbable doesn't mean impossible. A hail Mary heave landed into the hands of the Bearcats in the end zone sending the game into a second OT. In the end, the Tigers would lose in 3 OTs in a game that they dominated for 3 quarters. On the other hand, West Monroe started early and finished late against Evangel at Rebs Stadium. The 52-point shutout of the once prominent Eagles was a much-needed refreshment after a week 1 loss to Carencro. Senior RB Derome Williams rushed for nearly 200 yards and 4 scores on just 10 carries before coach Jerry Arledge could pull his starters. The Rebs emptied the playbook vs the Eagles with an arsenal of big plays which included a 67-yard pass and catch from two wide receivers. AJ Howard would also tack on a long TD run for the Rebs. The always reliable Rebs defense was also on display as they shut out the visitors while holding them to less than 60 yards total offense on the night. Stellar play on the line and in the secondary had the Rebs looking like a different team than a week earlier. This game is always one to mark as a must-see. From 2001 to 2008 the two teams did not meet, but the Rebs have owned the Tigers as of late with 5 wins since renewing the series in 2009. Last year's matchup also went in favor of the Rebs 41-14 but in this series that type of score isn't to be expected. Both teams sport the same 1-1 record and they both have striking similarities when watching them after the first 2 weeks. Both teams will look to run the ball each other's throats. Neville with the trio of Batteford, Tim Byrd and AJ Allen and West Monroe with Williams, Howard and QB Lane Little. Also, both defensive fronts have shown that they can a lot more physical than people have expected. When the dust settles, I'm expecting a somewhat low-scoring game that will be decided by only 1 score and that score will come on the foot of Tigers kicker William Read. As time expires, the Tigers finally clip the Rebs and gets back on track.

Neville 23 West Monroe 21

*** Grissom's Star of The Game ***

Anthony Allen – 15 Carries, 155 Yards, 3tds

Other Games:

5A

#1 Ruston 55 Woodlawn (Shreveport) 6

Ouachita 34 # Bastrop 21

West Ouachita 44 Northwood(Lena) 12

3A

#3 Union Parish 40 Franklin Parish 28

Sterlington 20 North Webster 6

Northwood (Shreveport) 28 Wossman 14

Woodlawn (Br) 26 Carroll 20

2A

#9 General Trass 26 #2 Ferriday 25

#10 Mangham 40 North Caddo 14

Rayville 38 Vidalia 16

Delhi Charter 13 Madison Parish 12

1A

#5 OCS 36 Delhi 15

#8 Oak Grove 31 St. Fred's 20

Cedar Creek 40 Tensas 8

Grissom's Top 10

Week 3

1 Ruston Bearcats (2-0)

2 Ferriday Trojans (2-0)

3 Union Parish Farmers (2-0)

4 Bastrop Rams (2-0)

5 O.C.S. Eagles (2-0)

6 Neville Tigers (1-1)

7 West Monroe Rebs (1-1)

8 Oak Grove Tigers (2-0)

9 General Trass Panthers (2-0)

10 Mangham Dragons (2-0)

Just Missed It: Ouachita, St Fred's, Franklin Parish, Sterlington, Cedar Creek, Wossman, West Ouachita

Grissom's G.O.At. Of The Week

Week 2

(Offensive)

Trey Holly

-Union Parish Farmers-

37 Carries, 301 Yards, 5TDs (99 Yd Score)

4 Rec., 40 Yards

Grissom's G.O.At. Of The Week

Week 2

(Defensive)

Kameron Williams

-General Trass Panthers-

11 Tackles, 2 Sacks