Based on the first week of Bossier Parish middle school football district play, there could be some close races this season.
In eighth-grade games, Benton slipped past Elm Grove 8-0, Haughton edged Greenacres 16-14 and Cope downed Rusheon 30-0.
In seventh-grade games, Benton got past Elm Grove 26-20, Greenacres downed Haughton 30-20 and Cope defeated Rusheon 28-6.
At Airline Stadium, Haughton scored with about a minute left in the game in the Bucs’ eighth-grade victory.
Peyton Stovall completed seven passes for 110 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for 40 yards.
Jack Edwards had 63 yards receiving and caught the TD pass. Dustin Phillips rushed for 53 yards and a touchdown.
Keshun English led the Haughton defense with six tackles. Jake St. Andre had five tackles. He also intercepted a pass and forced a fumble.
In the seventh-grade game, Haughton’s Coleman Stafford passed for one touchdown and ran 6 yards for another. His TD pass went to Logan Carmack for 57 yards. Carmack also caught a conversion pass.
Haughton’s Elton Bryant scored on a 16-yard run. Jakob Janeczko led the defense with nine tackles.
At Bossier’s Memorial Stadium, Ja’robert Kelly rushed for 103 yards and scored touchdowns on runs of 37 and 6 yards to lead Cope to the seventh-grade victory.
Christian Minor gained 30 yards on five carries and caught a conversion pass from Tyler Bumgardner.
Bumgardner also had a 1-yard TD run.
Defensive standouts included Kelly, Eli James, Darian Faust, James Beene and Quoziel Ghoston.
Rusheon’s Jaylyn Williams scored on the second play of the game on a 40-yard run. D.J. Lemette also ran the ball well.
Quarterback Carlos Butler played a solid game.
Butler and D’Angelo Garner were defensive standouts.
In the eighth-grade game, Jordan Harvey scored two rushing touchdowns in the Cougars’ victory.
Darrell Johnson threw a touchdown pass to Semaj Poole and scored one TD on the ground. Johnson and Jaylon Jenkins scored conversions.
Defensive standouts included Dextrell Parks, Michael Cannon, Sentavion Burns, Reese Rachal, Dalton Hanes, Dural Faust and Grant James
Anthony Watson had a good night running the ball for Rusheon. Sirjerrius Rayson and Darrell Beck were defensive standouts.
Rayson recovered a fumble and Beck made several big tackles.
At Benton, Clint Lasiter hit Jackson Illingsworth with a 35-yard touchdown in the first quarter in Benton’s eighth-grade victory. Lasiter also scored the two-point conversion.
Dillon Slaid had a big interception in the fourth quarter. Lasiter and Illingsworth also hooked up on a long completion to midfield late in the game to help the Tigers preserve the victory.
Ashur Hall had 61 yards rushing. Illingsworth finished with 73 yards receiving.
Coach Jared Stowell said the entire defense was outstanding with Brock Vayhoy, Cade Waites and A’Zaiun Taylor leading the way.
Quarterback Gabe Larry led Elm Grove with 85 yards on 11 carries. Jamal Asberry and Brady Norcross had some nice catches and runs.
Larry and Anthony Salazar were standouts on defense.
Evan Cole scored three touchdowns to lead Benton’s victorious seventh-grade squad.
Cole set up his first score, a 1-yard run, with a 35-yard run after an onsides kick. He also scored on a 40-yard run and a 66-yard kickoff return. Cole also scored a conversion for a 20-point game.
Caleb Cassidy scored the Tigers’ first touchdown on a 25-yard draw.
Elm Grove’s Jamonte Gordon passed for one touchdown and ran for another.
Gordon’s TD pass covered 60 yards to Derek Brown. He scored on an 8-yard run.
James Jordan scored the Eagles’ first TD on an 8-yard run.
Elm Grove’s Malachi White had 65 yards on 10 carries. Michael Feaster was outstanding on defense. He intercepted a pass that set up a TD.
Offensive linemen Devon Hall and Steven Gilbreath both blocked well.
NOTE: The above report is based on information provided by coaches. It will be updated when more is received.
— Russell Hedges, rhedges@bossierpress.com
