The Elm Grove Eagles, Benton Tigers and Cope Cougars posted eighth-grade middle school football victories Tuesday evening.
In Bossier Parish district games, Elm Grove downed Greenacres 20-0 at Airline and Benton defeated Haughton 18-6 at Haughton. In a non-district game, Cope rolled past Webster 38-14 at Minden.
Greenacres, Haughton and Cope all won seventh-grade games. In district games, Greenacres got past Elm Grove 20-16 and Haughton edged Benton 28-20 in two overtimes. In a non-district game, Cope topped Webster 22-8.
At Airline, Colby Stevenson rushed five times for 84 yards, including a 4-yard touchdown, in Elm Grove’s eighth-grade victory. He also scored a two-point conversion.
Ron Richmond had seven carries for 43 yards. James Jordan scored on a 15-yard run and had a 19-yard reception. Derek Brown scored on a 1-yard run.
“Great effort by both the offensive and defensive lines to control the line of scrimmage,” Elm Grove coach Terrence Smith said.
Smith said it was an outstanding overall defensive effort as the Mustangs had trouble moving the ball throughout the game.
Jacob Janeczko had three tackles, including two for loss, and assisted on two other tackles. Chris Mendiola had two tackles for loss and assisted on two tackles.
Thaj Simoneaux and Fabian Elias both had interceptions.
Rafael Edwards had two nice kick returns for Greenacres.
Tayvon Patterson, Haiden Landry and Gavin Ashworth were cited for their defensive play.
Dashon Collins had three very good punts.
Elm Grove led 8-0 at the half and then controlled the clock in the second half, scoring two more touchdowns.
Justin Epps ran for a pair of touchdowns and a two-point conversion in Greenacres’ seventh-grade victory. Jaelon Shumake also had a rushing touchdown.
“Both Jaelon and Justin ran hard all night, allowing Greenacres to control the clock,” coach Chris Skinner said.
Jailen Evans, Preston Cooper, Cozy Graham and Daxton Chavez were defensive standouts as the Eagles were able to put pressure on the quarterback.
Brian Swan played well in the defensive backfield.
Elm Grove’s Eli Harper had an outstanding game, completing eight of 18 passes for 156 yards, including a 23-yard touchdown to Trenton Lape.
Harper also scored one two-point conversion and passed to Chance Snell for another.
Jaylan White scored on a 3-yard run and also caught a 32-yard pass.
Snell caught three passes for 88 yards. Brandon Levy had a 13-yard catch.
At Haughton, Benton quarterback Caleb Cassidy had an impressive performance in the eighth-grade game, completing 10 of 19 passes for 235 yards and three touchdowns.
Two of his TD passes went to Evan Cole and covered 53 and 41 yards. Cole finished with six receptions for 151 yards.
Cassidy’s other TD pass of 10 yards went to Jaden Miller.
Luke Ward rushed for 76 yards. Davis Sellers had six tackles. Benton coach Jared Stowell said the Tigers overall played good pass defense.
Haughton’s TD came on a 6-yard pass from Coleman Stafford to Logan Carmack.
Elton Bryant led the Bucs’ running attack. D.J. Gladney, Jackson Voigt and Jake Pieri led the defense.
The seventh-grade grade game went into overtime tied at 14.
Benton scored first in the first OT but Haughton’s Colin Rains tied it at 20 with a rushing TD. In the second OT, Rains tossed a TD pass Cayden Hinkie and Connor Blank ran in the two-point conversion.
Blank then ended the game with an interception on Benton’s possession.
Blank had an outstanding game, scoring the Bucs’ first touchdown on a 3-yard run. Tyler Rhodes scored the conversion.
The game was tied at 8 at the half.
Benton scored early in the third quarter, but Dexter Smith returned the ensuing kickoff 65 yards for a touchdown to tie it.
Benton’s Grey Walters threw three touchdown passes, including two of 41 and 10 yards to Tyler Trotter. Trotter also set up another TD, a 9-yard pass from Walters to Pearce Russell, with a 37-yard catch and scored a two-point conversion.
At Minden, Cope rolled up 318 total yards in the eighth-grade victory over Webster.
Michael Johnson had eight carries for 106 yards, including touchdown runs of 22 and 25 yards.
Clayton Fry ran for a 7-yard touchdown. Fry and Tyler Bumgardner combined for 34 yards rushing.
Bryson Turner returned a kickoff 86 yards for a TD. Harrison Waxley caught a two-point conversion pass from Hayden Smith.
Waxley, Johnson, Turner and James Beene were named Players of the Game by coaches.
Kameron Allen scored two touchdowns and Jakarvis Guide one in the Cougars’ seventh-grade win.
Allen also caught a two-point conversion pass from Clayton Brandon.
NOTE: The above report is based on information received from coaches. It will be updated as soon as possible when and if more information is received.
— Russell Hedges, rhedges@bossierpress.com
