Varnado is set to play its first road game of the 2017 season, as the Wildcats head to St. Helena College & Career Academy tonight.
“We’re playing the most talented team we’ve seen so far,” Varnado coach Scott Shaffett said. “The quarterback and running back are both Division I commitments. Their lines on both sides of the ball are huge. They’ve got a lot of speed to go with it.
“They’re one of the top teams in Class 2A. They’ll be competing for a championship in Class 2A. Once again, we’re playing somebody that’ll be bigger than we are and has more kids than we have. We’ve just got to stay in the game, play hard for four quarters, keep it close in the fourth quarter and possibly pull it off because they are very talented.”
Varnado enters tonight with a 1-1 record after a 44-14 victory over Pine in a game that saw the Wildcats score 22 points in the fourth quarter.
Shaffett felt his team played well in all three phases of the game last week.
“That’s what you’re looking for,” Shaffett said. “Special teams is just as important as offense and defense. We’ve just got to keep getting better every week. That’s our goal.”
Offensively, James Williams completed 12-of-27 passes for 201 yards with two touchdowns — one each to Armontee Kemp and Jaccourious Bickham.
Kemp had five catches for 107 yards and a touchdown. He also intercepted a pass.
Bickham ran for 52 yards and recorded two receptions for 33 yards and a touchdown.
Desmond Harry posted two catches for 30 yards and he ran for 14 yards.
Jadarrell Magee tallied 45 rushing yards on 19 carries and a touchdown.
Defensively, Jeroderick Robinson intercepted a pass and JoNathan Green recovered two fumbles. Kevis Brooks and Brandon Lee also each recovered a fumble.
On special teams, Adrian Bickham blocked a punt. Christian Matthews picked up the loose ball and scored on a 2-yard return.
St. Helena enters tonight’s game with a 2-0 record with victories over Jewel Sumner, 50-0, and East Feliciana, 20-12. Last season, St. Helena reached the Class 2A state semifinals before falling to eventual state runner-up Madison Prep, 31-6.