Varnado returns to District 6-1A action tonight by hosting Southern Lab and hopes to extend its two-game winning streak.

The Wildcats (4-4, 1-1) got back to the .500 mark last week by downing Haynes Academy, 42-6.

Varnado, the 12th ranked team in Class 1A for power points, has done a great job over the last two weeks of getting off to good starts.

In the past two weeks, the Wildcats have outscored their opponents, 72-8, in the first half.

One of the keys to the offense is the production from so many players.

Last week, Nick Darden ran for 178 yards on just six carries (29.6 yards per attempt) and a touchdown. Darden also had a good game defensively, recording five tackles to go with an interception.

Tyrandis Crosby finished with 56 yards on only four carries (14).

Quarterback D.J. Jefferson was 6-for-6 in the passing game for 124 yards and three touchdown passes. Two of his scoring throws went to Delrick Abrams, with Armontee Kemp catching the other.

“We’re playing with a lot of confidence offensively,” Varnado coach Scott Shaffett said. “Except for one game (Pine), we’ve played very good on offense. We’re playing with confidence, and we’re finishing drives in the end zone, and that helps build confidence.”

Defensively, Dearius Parker made 10 tackles, followed by Damon Kirsch’s eight, Ardale McGowan’s seven and Andre Jones’ five.

“Defensively, we’re rotating in a lot of guys to keep them kind of fresh, and that has helped us out tremendously,” Shaffett said. “It’s allowed us to play four quarters.”

Southern Lab won last year’s game, 52-6, and comes in after blanking Christian Life, 35-0.

The Kittens, who are fifth in Division V power points and have won two straight, enter tonight at 3-5 overall and 2-0 in district,

The team’s five losses have come against some stout competition, including St. Charles Catholic (6-2), University Lab (8-0), Amite (6-2), Plaquemine (7-1) and Patterson (5-3).

“This year was an extension of last year because we have the same schedule,” said fourth-year coach Nick Mitchell. “The only difference is that these guys are bigger, stronger and wiser. We made the schedule so that we could play some of the best Division I athletes in the state of Louisiana to help us in the district and in the playoffs. We still haven’t played with all of our starters because of some injuries. We made the schedule so we could play our best football this time of the year.”

The Kittens’ spread offense has Bladrick Veal at quarterback. Darbbeon Profit at running back, and wide receivers Tevis Abraham, Xavier Bell, Derrick Pate and Devin Dixon. Mitchell named tackle Ben Mason, end Deion Rainey, cornerback Joseph McWilliams and linebackers Dorien Welch and Javahn Ferguson his top defenders.