By Shawn White
Under the Radar NWLA
The two Claiborne Parish school room the show on the road as the Golden Tornado brought back a win and the Pelicans came up short. Haynesville traveled to Camden, AR to bring back a 58-24 win over Harmony Grove. Homer continued its David-Goliath tour as they faced 4A Minden at The Pit and fell 39-20.
Haynesville 58, Harmony Grove (AR) 24
The Golden Tornado wrecked the Hornets field racking up 626 all-purpose yards including 342 yards rushing and 182 yards receiving. Donnie Critton had 17 carries for 121 yards and a touchdown. Yasmin Meadors also had a big night with 6 carries for 86 yards. Gary McElroy, Byruss Burns, Ethan Henderson, and Hayden Gilbert all contributed rushing touchdowns. Quarterback Isaiah Washington threw 6-for-12 for 182 yards and two touchdowns. Kaylen Payton and Keizavion Woods were on the receiving end of those TD passes.
The Hornets stung early against Haynesville as Damien Burns took the opening kickoff return 88 yards to the house for a 6-0 lead. Haynesville marched back down the field as Donnie Critton rumbled into the end zone on a 5-yard run. Haynesville took the 7-6 lead. Haynesville’s Burns took his turn to the end zone on a 4-yard run and pushed the lead to 14-6. Elijah Bray expanded the lead to 17-6 with a 26-yard field goal. Damien Burns continued to be deadly on the kickoff return with a 95-yard kickoff return touchdown to cut the lead to 17-12.
McElroy scored early in the second quarter on a 2-yard run giving Haynesville the 24-12 lead. Isaiah Washington launched a 66-yard touchdown pass to Kaylon Payton to give the Golden Tornado the 31-12 which they held until halftime.
Washington tossed his second touchdown pass to Woods on a 29-yard touchdown pass widening the lead to 38-12. Ethan Henderson found an opening heading 15 yards to the end zone to keep pushing Haynesville further away at 45-12. The Hornets took one more score in the third quarter when Burns connected with Keagan Jones on a 20-yard touchdown pass to head into the final quarter for a 45-18 score.
Hayden Gilbert headed to the end zone on a 10-yard run and De’jon Wesson closed out the Haynesville scoring on a 5-yard run. Logan Nipp gave the Hornets on final touchdown with 20 seconds left on a 70-yard run.
Minden 39, Homer 20
The Homer Pelicans (0-2) came up short against Minden on Friday night at the Pit. The Pelicans out performed Minden on offensive yards 250 to 241. The Pels fell victim to the yellow flag as they were called for 9 penalties for 83 yards.
Gregory Williams once again had a stellar night as he had 15 carries for 189 yards and three touchdowns. Kevin Williams was 7 for 17 and 75 yards. The top target was Spencer Dunn with 5 receptions for 54 yards.
Minden’s Lucas Owen scored the only touchdown in the first quarter on a 27-yard run. Minden carried the 7-0 lead into the second quarter.
Minden took an 8-play drive and ended with a 36-yard field goal by Bryaon Ranger as The Tide lead grew to 10-0. Williams forst touchdown of the night broke loose on a 76-yard bolt down the field to cut the lead to 10-7. Minden bounced back as Owens crashed the end zone on a 1-yard run. With 31 seconds left in the half, Hudson Brown found an open Kameron Harris on a 12-yard touchdown pass and Minden carries a 25-6 lead into halftime.
Williams struck again on a 9-yard run and added the 2-point conversion to cut the lead to 25-14. Brown took the quarterback keeper into the end zone and closed out the third quarter up 32-14.
Homer’s Williams took a 59-yard run to the end zone and closed in 32-20. The celebration was short-lived as Braydon Britton returned the kick off 75 yards for a final score for Minden.
The two Claiborne Parish paths will cross in the annual Claiborne Parish Superbowl at Haynesville on Friday night at 7:30.