The Airline Vikings used a strong defensive effort and got some big plays on offense in a 48-17 District 1-5A victory over Byrd Friday night at M.D. Ray Field at Airline Stadium,
Airline improved to 6-3 overall and 4-3 in district. The Vikings are No. 17 in the non-select Division I power rankings. They need to move up at least one spot in the final rankings to host a first-round playoff game.
Airline closes the regular season Friday night at home against Huntington. The Raiders (3-6, 3-4) lost to Natchitoches Central 33-14 Thursday night.
Byrd dropped to 2-7 and 1-6.
Airline senior Kenny Darby scored two touchdowns. He scored the Vikings’ first TD on a 3-yard run and the last on a 99-yard kickoff return.
Junior Chase Williams completed 12-of-16 passes for 253 yards.
But the Vikings got some big plays from several players who haven’t been in the spotlight most of the season.
Zeus Arthur had four catches for 174 yards. He set up a touchdown by going 79 yards around left end after taking a shovel pass from Williams. He also ran five yards for a touchdown.
Chris Hart scored touchdowns on runs of 31 and 3 yards. He finished with 45 yards on five carries.
Matthew Moore had a 2-yard touchdown run.
Terrence Hays rushed for 96 yards on four carries. He also scored on a 2-yard pass from Williams.
Preston Hughes had a 30-yard run. Phoenix Padeway had 28 yards on five carries.
The defense gave up some yardage to Byrd’s option offense. But the Vikings didn’t allow the Jackets to break any long runs until late in the game.
Airline also recovered two fumbles. The Vikings converted the first one into a touchdown but the second one was huge.
Airline jumped out to a 20-0 lead. Byrd took some momentum into halftime after Ashur Murray kicked a 54-yard field goal on the final play.
The Jackets then took the second-half kickoff and drove 68 yards on 14 runs to the Airline 5. But the Vikings recovered a fumble at the 4.
Airline then drove 96 yards for a touchdown to go up 27-3. The Vikings reached the Byrd 18 on a 74-yard gain and Williams completed a pass on the run to the 3.
Hart’s 3-yard TD run and Max Tinkis’ PAT gave the Vikings a 27-3 lead. Byrd never got closer than 17 the rest of the game.