Former Bossier Parish high school stars continued play pivotal roles on their college teams last Saturday.
Ex-Parkway star Brandon Harris had his best game of the season in the Tigers’ 45-24 victory over South Carolina in Tiger Stadium.
The sophomore completed 18 of 28 passes for 228 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions.
For the season, Harris has completed 51 of 89 passes for 610 yards and four TDs with no interceptions in LSU’s run-first offense.
The Tigers had 624 yards total offense against the Gamecocks. Heisman frontrunner Leonard Fournette rushed for 158 yards and freshman Derrius Guice had 161.
LSU coach Les Miles praised Harris’ performance.
“I think Brandon threw the ball well,” he said. “I think there are some things we can improve on offensively. But all in all I think it was a good job by them again.”
Saturday is perhaps the biggest game in Harris’ brief career as LSU’s starter. The Tigers (5-0, 3-0 SEC), ranked No. 6 in the AP Top 25, host No. 8 Florida (6-0, 4-0) at 6 p.m.
Elsewhere, former Airline standout Hayden Hildebrand had his third straight outstanding performance at quarterback for Central Arkansas.
LSU quarterback Brandon Harris, a former Parkway star, looks for running room during the Tigers’ 45-24 victory over South Carolina on Saturday.
Hildebrand, a redshirt sophomore, completed 19 of 24 passes for 274 yards and four touchdowns with one interception in a 43-7 Southland Conference rout of Houston Baptist.
In two games plus three quarters Hildebrand has completed 43 of 60 (71.1 percent) passes for 716 yards and nine touchdowns with one interception.
The Bears (3-2, 3-0) host McNeese State (5-0, 4-0) on Saturday with the winner taking sole possession of the SLC lead.
Former Haughton star running back Jarred Craft started in place of injured star running back Kenneth Dixon in Louisiana Tech’s 34-31 Conference USA victory against Texas-San Antonio in the Alamodome.
The sophomore rushed for 72 yards on 19 carries. He scored a rushing touchdown and also caught one of Jeff Driskel’s four TD passes.
The Bulldogs (4-2, 2-1) visit Mississippi State (4-2) Saturday at 11 a.m.
According to media reports, Dixon is expected to return.
Speaking of Mississippi State, former Haughton star Dak Prescott didn’t feel well Saturday and played less than a quarter in the Bulldogs’ 45-17 victory over Troy.
He completed three of six passes for 74 yards and a touchdown.
Former Airline star Michael Nunnery and ex-Parkway star William McKnight both contributed to Southern Arkansas’ 38-20 victory over Oklahoma Baptist.
Nunnery gained 49 yards on 10 carries and McKnight had 49 on nine. McKnight also had a pair of 2-yard touchdown runs.
SAU (4-2) visits Ouachita Baptist (4-2) in a Great American Conference game Saturday.
— Russell Hedges, rhedges@bossierpress.com
