By LORI LYONS, Journal Sports
In the game of football, it’s not just all about winning. Coaches know that, sometimes, it’s about how your team reacts to winning.
Alexandria Senior High, Holy Savior Menard, Buckeye, Northwood-Lena and Tioga all are coming off big wins. For Northwood, it was the first win of the season. Alexandria had to hold off a late rally to win at Destrehan. Menard and Buckeye escaped with one-point wins. Tioga got a statement win.
But there’s no time for resting on laurels as we reach Week 4 of the 10-game regular season.
For the first time since 2014, Buckeye is 3-0 following Friday night’s come-from-behind 27-26 win over South Beauregard. Preston Willis ran for 297 yards and two touchdowns, kicking the decisive extra point following his game-tying run with 1:47 remaining in the game.
This week the Panthers will host the Avoyelles Mustangs (0-3) for their homecoming celebration. Last year Avoyelles beat Buckeye 46-0.
“Our rallying cry this week is ‘remember last year,’” Buckeye coach Aaron York said. “We were 2-1 going into it and had just lost to South Beauregard. Mentally we went there and didn’t play very well. This year our focus is on one game at a time.”
After scoring a crushing 56-14 win at Pineville last week, Tioga (3-1 traveled to Monroe on Thursday where the Indias fought for a 54-30 victory over a Richwood Rams club that would not fade away.
This week Pineville (2-1) hosts the Battle of The Villes, hosting Leesville (1-2). The Rebels were in a tight game with Tioga before giving up 42 unanswered points. Kelmarion Phillips scored on a 66-yard run and a 73-yard run for Pineville, which opened with a solid win in Week 1 at New Iberia.
After dominating victories against West Feliciana (54-7) and Union Parish (57-0), Alexandria escaped south Louisiana last week with a 27-26 victory over traditional powerhouse Destrehan, thanks to some big plays and a running game that had to step up.
Running back Kason Williams ran for 116 yards and three touchdowns on 19 carries, plus he caught a touchdown pass from quarterback Karsen Sellers. Sellers was 5 of 10 for 79 yards, 50 of which came on one play.
This week the Trojans (3-0, ranked sixth in Class 5A) welcome another traditional powerhouse, Opelousas, for homecoming. The Tigers, in their first year under former Peabody coach and LSU linebacker Harry Coleman as coach, are 0-2 following a lopsided loss to Teurlings Catholic (48-12) in Week 1 and a closer game against Lake Charles College Prep (41-34) in Week 3. They did not play in Week 2.
Menard may have spent a little time polishing the Bishop’s Bowl Trophy it took from St. Mary’s for the first time after last week’s 7-6 win – but not too much. The Class 2A Eagles (2-1) travel to Class 3A Abbeville (0-3), a team they defeated by just one point last season.
Menard will rely on senior quarterback Jake Vaughan, who passed for 122 yards last week and connected with senior receiver Matthew Hicks for the lone touchdown of the game. Hicks also made an interception in the second half. The Eagles rushed for only 86 yards in what turned out to be a defensive battle that coach David Perkins said was old school.
“It was almost like from my era in the ‘70s,” he said.
Senior Jacob Jeanise had seven tackles and two assists; junior Wyatt Heyward had five tackles and four assists and junior Jack Simpson had two tackles and seven assists.
Northwood notched its first win of the season last week, knocking off Pickering 14-6 for homecoming. This week the Gators will travel north to Sibley and visit Lakeside (2-1), whose running back, Kentravion Miller, averages 9.9 yards per carry.
Peabody had a rough road trip to Fontainebleau last week, leaving with a 30-6 loss after giving up 438 rushing yards. This week the Warhorses host Franklin (1-2), which is coming off a big 56-22 win over Berwick.
After forfeiting its Week 3 game, Bolton Academy returned to the field Thursday night, traveling to LaGrange, which handed the Bears a 60-0 loss.
Contact Lori at sportslyons@gmail.com