Kenny Darby’s five touchdowns and an outstanding defensive performance lifted the Airline Vikings past the Natchitoches Central Chiefs 41-21 in a District 1-5A game Friday night in Natchitoches.
Airline improved to 5-3 overall with its second straight victory and 3-3 in district. Natchitoches Central, which had a three-game winning streak snapped, fell to 4-4 and 2-4.
Airline intercepted four passes, three in the second half.
The biggest came with Natchitoches Central facing a third-and-6 at the Airline 11 trailing 33-21 early in the fourth quarter.
Chiefs quarterback Owen Smith attempted a short pass over the middle.
The Vikings had it well-covered. Kang Noh picked it off and returned it to the Chiefs 45. A penalty moved the ball to the 30.
Airline wasn’t able to turn the turnover into points. But the Vikings made another stop on fourth-and-11 from their 37.
Darby then scored his final touchdown on the first play.. A two-point conversion put the Vikings on top 41-21 with 4:34 left to play.
Smith has an outstanding senior season, but Airline made things tough for him. The Vikings brought heavy pressure and forced him to either get rid of the ball quickly or throw on the run.
He completed just 5-of-23 passes. The Vikings had interceptions on the Chiefs’ final two possessions.
Darby’s other touchdowns came on runs of 4, 62 and 1 yards and an 86-yard kickoff return.
The Vikings got off to a fast start, driving 77 yards on 12 plays.
The Chiefs answered with a 60-yard drive in 11 plays. They got a break when Airline was called for holding after sacking Smith for a big loss on fourth-and-10.
The PAT gave Natchitoches Central its only lead of the game at 7-6.
It didn’t last long. Darby caught the kickoff at the 14 near the left hash marks and sprinted across and down it for the touchdown.
Airline got a safety when a punt snap went over the punter’s head into the end zone.
On the first play after the kickoff, Darby took a pitch from Chase Williams and went 62 yards to give the Vikings a 20-7 lead and that’s how it stood at the end of the first quarter.
Airline recovered a fumble on the Chiefs 27 early in the second. The Vikings capitalized, converting a third-and-7 on a Williams’ pass en route to the TD.
The Chiefs reached the Airline 20 but the Vikings broke up a pass on fourth-and-3.
Later in the quarter, Desmian Curry intercepted a pass over the middle after Smith had to get rid of the ball to avoid a sack.
The half ended with Airline on top 27-7.
Natchitoches Central came out strong In the second half behind the running of Kelton Howard, who scored on a 35-yard run.
Airline answered with a 63-yard TD drive. On first down from the Chiefs 45, Darby took a pitch and almost went down near the line of scrimmage. But he put his right hand down and took off again for a 31-yard gain.
Williams hit Justin Woodfork for 14 yards to the 5 and thenwent up the middle for the score. Airline led 33-14.
The Vikings were assessed a 15-yard penalty after the touchdown and had to kick off from the 25. The Chiefs returned it to the Vikings 26.
It took them four plays to score. Smith hit KJ Newton with a short pass for the TD, cutting Airline’s lead to 33-21 with 5:58 left in the third quarter.
Airline hosts Byrd next Friday. The Yellow Jackets are scheduled to play Benton Friday night.