A quick glance at Haynesville’s Week 9 schedule would reveal a ‘home’ game for the Golden Tornado against The Willow School out of the New Orleans area.

 

But the Tors loaded up the bus before noon to head to Mississippi College (Clinton, Miss.) to face The Willow School in a neutral site game.

 

No matter – Haynesville stiff-armed early opposition from The Willow School in a 56-13 throttling.

 

The Tors were faced with a scheduling dilemma after its initial opponent Ringgold declared itself ineligible for the playoffs and didn’t play a full district slate.

 

So Haynesville scoured the state (and other states) just before the season began for an opponent without a Week 9 game, finding the New Orleans charter school that plays in Class 4A.

 

The Tors used big plays early to create distance and then coasted to their ninth-straight victory this season.

 

All of Haynesville’s first four touchdowns were 45 yards or longer as the Tors built a 28-7 lead midway through the second quarter.

 

Jermarquis Hamilton (46-yard catch), Jayden Ahmad Green (49-yard catch), Byruss Burns (59-yard run) and Donnie Critton (77-yard run) accounted for the early scores.

 

A trip to Glenbrook is all that stands between Haynesville and a perfect regular season in which the Tors have won every game by at least 15 points.

 

Glenbrook (5-2, 4-1 District 1-1A) could force a share of the district title with a win, but the Apaches are coming off a 30-29 loss to a Jonesboro-Hodge team that Haynesville drilled 46-0 earlier this season.

 

Most importantly, the win against Class 4A Willow School shot Haynesville up the Division IV Non-Select power ratings as the Tors sit at No. 1.

 

 

Homer arguably had its most complete game of the season in a 34-6 domination of a North Caddo team that’s caused plenty of issues for its opponents.

 

The Pelicans (4-5) have won three straight games and have secured a spot in the Division IV Non-Select playoffs.

 

Homer, who was out of the playoff picture at 1-5, is now at No. 21 with a first-round playoff game within its grasp.

 

The Pelicans are 4-0 at home this season and welcome in a physical D’Arbonne Woods Charter bunch (6-2) that would be a sizable skin on the wall if Homer could pull off a win.

 

Homer led 8-6 early against North Caddo when Williams forced a fumble that set up the Pels second score and then sprinted for a 60-yard touchdown for a 20-6 edge.

 

The Pels forced another fumble as North Caddo was deep in the red zone to keep the Titans (3-6) at bay.

 

Quarterback Kevin Williams Jr. tossed touchdowns to Antonio Casey and Spencer Dunn to close out the scoring.

 

Greg Williams is nearing 1,700 rushing yards for the season with 2,000 in reach given a Week 10 matchup and at least one playoff game.

 

 

Claiborne Academy sat back during the first week of the MAIS Class 1A football playoffs awaiting which opponent would come to Haynesville for Round 2.

 

The Rebels soundly beat Tallulah Academy two weeks ago, but they won’t see a seven-win Tallulah bunch again.

 

Marvell Academy won a 70-62 shootout in Tallulah as MA matched its scoring output for the entire season in one game Friday.

 

Marvell picked up just its second win of the season to advance to the second round of the playoffs against a Tallulah bunch that slid late in the season despite winning seven games.

 

Claiborne has demonstrated its offensive virility with seven performances of 40 points or higher, led by quarterback Kyler Monk and running back Dylan Buckner.

 

Both Monk and Buckner could go over 1,000 rushing yards on the season in this upcoming game.

 

A win would put Claiborne against No. 1 seed Briarfield Academy next week.