Varnado faces Ringgold tonight in the Class 1A playoffs
Published 3:39 pm Friday, November 14, 2014
Varnado has made the playoffs for the second straight year and is back home to host Ringgold in the bi-district round of the Class 1A postseason.
“It’s a playoff game,” Varnado coach Scott Shaffett said. “At this point, nobody has any losses, and nobody has any wins. The loser goes to the house. This point of the season says a lot about your team and your character. Winners step and play. It’s a chance to create a legacy. You can be a team that won a playoff game or a team that didn’t. I’d like to change our legacy and be a team that won in the playoffs.”
The 14th-seeded Wildcats, who finished with a 4-6 overall record and 1-4 in District 6-1A play, are looking to snap a two-game losing streak.
If they do, it’ll be their first playoff win since 2009 when the team defeated Catholic of Pointe Coupee, 32-20.
The two setbacks were to Southern Lab and Madison Prep.
The winner faces third-seeded West St. John, which has a bye.
Last week, D.J. Jefferson completed two touchdown passes to Delrick Abrams. They were 67 and 31 yards.
Jefferson finished 8-of-20 passing for 164 yards.
Abrams had eight carries for 55 yards, and Nick Darden returned a punt 43 yards for a score.
Defensively, Abrams made 10 tackles. Blake Fornea had five stops, including two sacks.
Travon Stokes was in on four stops and intercepted a pass.
Desmond Harry and Damon Kirsch each made five tackles.
Dearius Parker logged six stops.
“D.J. Jefferson has played through injury. He’s stepped up this season and really played well. He’s shown the winning character,” Shaffett said.
“Delrick Abrams is playing really good football. Ardale McGowan brings his best game every week. Kyle Slocum is going to give you 100 percent, 100 percent of the time. He fights through adversity. He’s been a leader on and off the field all season long.”
Ringgold, the No. 19 seed, is located about 45 miles southeast of Shreveport.
The team, which went 0-5 in district, got off to a good start at 3-0, but has lost seven in a row.
Ringgold has not scored in double digits since its week-three win over Tenas, 36-26.
Last week, Ringgold lost to Grambling 46-6.
“We started off well, but we’ve been in a little tailspin,” Ringgold coach Dedric Smith said.
“We started with 25 kids, but due to injuries and some other things, we’re down 18. Our thing is to run the ball and play defense.”
Ringgold went to the playoffs last season but lost to Plain Dealing, 52-14, in the bi-district round.
Ringgold’s quarterback is Rory Loud. This season, he is 44-for-92 passing (47.8 completion percentage) for 690 yards and five touchdowns. He’s also added two on the ground.
Running back Deondre Scott has gained 848 yards on 127 carries (6.6 yards per carry) and six touchdowns.
Their top wide receiver is Octavion Williams, who has 20 catches for 387 yards and four touchdowns.
Defensively, Ringgold is a 4-3 team. The top players are defensive tackle Courtney Allums, linebacker Tarell Reliford and defensive backs Williams and Scott.
Reliford has made 78 tackles, nine for loss and he has forced three fumbles. Scott and Williams have intercepted three passes apiece.