The Haughton Bucs came up just short in their quest for the District 1-5A championship.
Haughton fell to the Evangel Christian Academy Eagles 42-35 in a battle for the title Friday night at Prescott Field.
A year after going 2-8, the Bucs closed the regular season 8-2. Haughton finished tied for second with Airline in the district at 4-2.
Evangel, which repeated as champion, improved to 6-4 and 5-1.
Haughton was No. 11 in the non-select Division I power rankings updated by the LHSAA at 6 a.m. Saturday.
Official first-round playoff pairings will be announced Sunday. If the rankings remain as they are, the Bucs will host District 1-5A foe and parish rival Parkway (5-5) in the first round.
Haughton led 28-14 after scoring on its first possession of the second half. But Evangel rallied and took a 42-35 lead with 9:08 left in the game.
The Bucs started at their 20 after the kickoff into the end zone.
On fourth-and-13 from the 17, Taylor Weathersby completed an 18-yard pass to Luke Hensley on a fake punt.
On fourth-and-14 at the 45, Weathersby hit Case Corkern for 24 yards on a flea-flicker play to the Evangel 31.
Weathersby came up inches short of a first down on a run on third-and-4. On fourth down, an Eagle linebacker shot through the line and dropped Brandon Craig for a 4-yard loss.
Evangel then ran out the clock.
Haughton took the 28-14 lead on a 79-yard drive. Weathersby had a 34-yard run and scored on an 18-yard run. Ethan Osbon kicked the fourth of his five extra points.
A long kick return set up Evangel at the Haughton 38. The Eagles scored on a 6-yard pass from Peyton Houston to Tikelon High.
After the Eagles forced a punt, Houston threw a 31-yard touchdown pass and Evangel tied it at 28 with 3:18 left in the third quarter.
The Bucs answered with an 80-yard touchdown drive capped by a 9-yard touchdown pass from Weathersby to CT Woodard with 15 seconds left in the third quarter.
Evangel went 66 yards for a touchdown. Houston hit Cardelrio Coleman from the 8. The PAT was no good and Haughton led 35-34 with 11:32 left in the game.
The Eagles then recovered a fumble at their 44 after a long run by Haughton.
Evangel drove for the go-ahead touchdown, an 8-yard pass from Houston to Derrick Berry.
Haughton scored on its first two possessions of the game on drives of 80 and 63 yards.
Brandon Craig scored on a 6-yard run and a 1-yard run.
Evangel tied it at 14 early in the second quarter.
After each team made an interception, the Bucs drove 98 yards for a touchdown on a 27-yard pass from Weathersby to Ethan Taylor with 29 seconds left in the half.
Weathersby completed 13-of-22 passes for 244 yards and two touchdowns. Taylor caught five passes for 105 yards. Woodard had four catches for 89 yards.
Weathersby also led the team in rushing with 114 yards on 14 carries. Craig had 96 on 23. Nolan Simmons had 53 on eight.