Varnado will play at home tonight in a District 8-1A contest against St. Martin’s Episcopal, as the Wildcats try to improve to 2-0 in district play.
“We’re striving,” Varnado coach Scott Shaffett said. “We’re getting to the back end of the season and we’re hoping to improve each and every week, including this week.”
Varnado enters tonight’s game with a 3-2 overall record and a 1-0 mark in district.
Last week, Varnado defeated Covenant Christian Academy, 36-13.
Varnado is second in the LHSAA unofficial Class 1A power rankings.
Offensively last week, Varnado was balanced.
James Williams threw for 162 yards with two touchdowns and an interception.
Desmond Harry had a solid night, both running and receiving. He ran 13 times for 69 yards and a touchdown. He also caught four passes for 99 yards and a score.
Jaccourious Bickham ran for 31 yards on five attempts and he caught three passes for 31 yards and a touchdown.
JaDarrell Magee ran for 47 yards and a touchdown.
Adrian Bickham caught a pass for 19 yards while Armontee Kemp made a catch for 13.
“I think at this point in the season, I think we’re playing better offensively,” Shaffett said. “I think we’re better than we have been. We’re getting back to what we do and what we do best. It reflected in the score and it reflected in overall game performance. When we do that, it shows on the scoreboard and shows in your momentum.”
Defensively, the team allowed one touchdown, which came with 6:28 left in the fourth quarter.
Darian Vargas had a fumble return of 40 yards for his first career high school touchdown.
Covenant Christian’s other touchdown was an 87-yard kickoff return to begin the game.
“I thought we played well as a team,” Shaffett said. “We did a good job across the board. The line played exceptionally well. The linebackers filled holes and the secondary played exceptionally well. Anytime you don’t give up a score until late in the fourth quarter when you’re substituting, that says a lot about your defense.”
Varnado won last year’s game, 40-14.
St. Martin’s enters this week with a 3-3 record. The team is on a two-game losing streak, with losses to Cohen College Prep, 28-15, and Ascension Christian, 28-21.
St. Martin’s is 18th in the unofficial LHSAA Division IV power rankings.
St. Martin’s coach John McDonell said his players know that Varnado is an excellent football team.
They’re well coached,” St. Martin’s coach John McDonell said. “They’ve got physicality in the lines and the way they run the football. They not only block well, but their running backs run very hard and are physical runners too. It’s a daunting challenge, but we’re looking forward to it.”
McDonell said his team has a lot of players that play both ways.
McDonell said quarterback Ethan Everitt is a dual threat guy that can throw it and run it. He has thrown for five touchdowns.
Running back Will Leopoid has about 690 yards rushing with nine touchdowns.
Wide receiver John Hurley enters with 25 catches for about 350 yards and four touchdowns. Hurley also has a kickoff return.
McDonell said that Hurley is good with the ball in his hands not only as a receiver, but is also a great kickoff and punt returner.
McDonell said St. Martin’s best lineman is Garrett Kalorgiratos. The rest of the top defenders include Barret Shephard, who plays cornerback, and Charlie Kellum, a defensive lineman.