A year ago, the Haughton Bucs were 1-7 at this point in the season. And now? How about 8-0 and in first place in District 1-5A.
Haughton defeated the Airline Vikings 42-28 Friday night at M.D. Ray at Airline Stadium. The Bucs improved to 4-0 in district.
With defending champion Evangel Christian’s 28-24 loss to Byrd, Haughton took sole possession of the district lead.The Bucs can clinch a share of the title with a victory over winless Natchitoches Central on the road. The Chiefs (0-8, 0-4 fell to Benton 41-35 in overtime Friday night.
Airline (6-2, 3-1) visits Evangel (4-4, 3-1).
Matthew Sewell is in his third season as Haughton’s head coach. While he doesn’t like to necessarily give one victory more weight than any other, he admitted this was his biggest.
While Haughton led by 21 points in the fourth quarter, the game lived up to the hype in front of a large crowd.
Both teams have high-powered offenses averaging more than 40 points per game. Haughton’s Brandon Craig continued his outstanding season with five touchdowns.
But defensive and special teams plays were a big factor in the Bucs’ victory.
With the score tied at 7 in the first quarter, Luke Hensley batted down a pass on fourth-and-1 at the Bucs 37.
The Vikings forced a punt and drove 95 yards for a touchdown capped by Chase Williams’ 4-yard pass to Nathan White.
Airline then tackled Taylor Weathersby at the Haughton 20 when it appeared the Bucs were going to pooch punt.
With the Vikings having a chance to go up by two scores just before the half, Haughton got some quick pressure on Williams and forced an incomplete pass on fourth-and-11.
“That was a huge point in the game,” Sewell said.
Airline led 14-7 at the half.
The Bucs took the second-half kickoff and drove 80 yards for a touchdown capped by a 4-yard run by Craig. Ethan Osbon’s extra-point kick tied the game at 14.
The Vikings then drove from their 5 to the Haughton 17. But the Bucs recovered a fumble at the 16.
A few plays later, Weathersby hit Ethan Johnson for a 45-yard touchdown and Haughton led for the first time in the game.
Late in third quarter, Haughton’s Colton Bedgood intercepted a pass tipped by Xaveria McDuffy Jr. and returned it to the Airline 39. Three plays later Craig scored from 7 yards out. Osbon’s PAT gave Haughton a 28-14 lead with 10:57 left in the game.
Airline wasn’t done. The Vikings answered with an 80-yard touchdown drive to get within seven. Williams scored on a 12-yard run and Dylan Johnson kicked his third PAT.
The Bucs recovered an onside kick. On third-and-20 from the Airline 46, Weathersby scrambled and hit a wide-open Case Corkern for 35 yards to the 11.
Craig scored on fourth-and-1 from the 4. Haughton led 35-21 with 4:02 left to play.
Hensley forced a fumble on the ensuing kickoff and the Bucs recovered at the 20. Craig scored from the 5 and the Bucs led 42-21.
Because of penalties, Haughton had to kick off from the 13. The Vikings scored on a 33-yard pass from Williams to Caleb Nunn with still more than two minutes to go play.
But Haughton recovered the onside kick and ran out the clock.
Craig finished with 256 yards on 38 carries.
Sewell has been singing Craig’s praises for three seasons for good reason. He was almost at a loss for words Friday night.
“Five touchdowns. There’s just not a lot even to say,” he said. “Just kind of what he does. But we leaned on him big in the second half. He was a real bell cow for us tonight. He has been the last three years. But to go win those big games against the really good teams in our league, especially on the road, you’ve gotta be able to run it. And when you got a bell cow like him, you ride them and that’s what we were able to do tonight behind our offensive line and tight ends. They had a great night.”
Williams completed 22-of-33 passes for 249 yards. Hart rushed for 109 yards on 17 carries.
Nunn caught seven passes for 92 yards. Terrance Hays had seven catches for 78 yards. Sir’Charles Marshall had three for 51. White had four for 38.