By Shawn C. White
(Under The Radar NWLA)
The Homer Pelicans 2023 emotional season came to an end on Friday night after a 48-20 road loss to No. 2 Kentwood Kangaroos (11-1).
The Pelicans (9-4) emotional rollercoaster started with the death of Ja’Kerion Calome before the season began in June. The Homer team came together and took an impressive 7-2 season through Week 9 with wins only to have the culmination of the regular season be a fight for a district title and possibly a first-round bye on the line against their arch-rival Haynesville Golden Tornado. Haynesville got the edge but the Pels still compiled the 7-3 regular season and grabbed a No. 6 seed. Homer had nail-biters in the first two rounds. Homer would have to travel to Kentwood in the quarterfinals, the first time the Pels would travel in the playoffs except the state championships since 2021.
Pelican’s quarterback Zyan Warren had a hand in all three touchdowns. Warren was 14-for-22 throwing 136 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception. Ramon Castro crossed the century mark with 100 yards on 10 carries. Warren tossed touchdown passes to Katrevick Banks and Demetrius Pitts.
Andrevious Buggs kept the defense rolling with 7 tackles. Banks, Lamarriantae Bell, and Gregory Williams each had 5 tackles. Williams also snagged an interception.
Kentwood got on the board first with a touchdown but failed on the point after. Homer had a mishap on a snap to the punter and gave the Kangaroos the ball on the 2. Kentwood scored again to push the lead to 13-0. Warren took the quarterback keeper to the end zone to close the gap for Homer. The Kangaroos didn’t allow the Pelicans to celebrate as they returned the kickoff for a touchdown. Kentwood led 20-6 at the end of the first quarter.
Homer stifled the Kentwood scoring in the second quarter. Greg Williams snatched an interception giving Homer the ball. Warren connected with Pitts for the sole score in the second quarter and closed the gap to 20-12 heading into halftime.
The third quarter saw the Kangaroos expand their lead with a touchdown pass early in the third quarter. Two minutes later, Kentwood struck again and the Kangaroos had pushed to a 34-12 lead in the first four minutes. After a controversial call on an interception by Williams, Kentwood reached the end zone once again and the 41-12 lead. Homer scores in the closing minute of the third quarter with a touchdown pass from Warren to Banks. Dunn caught the two-point conversion as Homer ended the quarter down 41-20.
Kentwood added one touchdown in the final quarter to close out the 48-20 win.