Varnado’s defense pitched a shutout and James Williams accounted for a pair of touchdowns in the Wildcats’ 22-0 non-district victory over Class 2A Mangham in the regular season finale on the road Friday.
“The defense played lights out,” Varnado coach Scott Shaffett said. “They came out there and they were very physical up front. We challenged them that we had to stop their running game, because they had beaucoup yards the week before. The kids took the challenge, they bowed their necks and shut Mangham down.”
Varnado jumped out to a 14-0 lead at halftime.
Williams, who also ran for a touchdown, completed a 25-yard pass to Armontee Kemp. The two-point conversion was no good, keeping the game at a 6-0 lead.
Williams added to the lead when he snuck in from the 1 and then Desmond Harry coverted the two points for a 14-0 lead by halftime.
Mangham fumbled and recovered in its own end zone for a Varnado safety and the Wildcats were up 16-0.
The final touchdown came on a 15-yard run by Harry.
Shaffett praised his team’s play.
“We picked a great time to play our best game of the year,” Shaffett said. “We played a complete game. We played four quarters. You’re going into the playoffs and what do you want going into the playoffs? Playing your best football.
“We had to travel to a hostile environment in north Louisiana where Mangham doesn’t lose many games at home. When you go into that environment and win, that’s big.”
Varnado finished the regular season with a 6-3 record. The Wildcats are in the Class 1A playoffs as the fourth seed. Varnado is hosting 29th-seeded Ringgold at 7 p.m. on Friday night.
Ringgold tallied a 1-9 record this season and lost to Haynesville, 60-0, last Friday. Ringgold has not scored a point in the last four games. The winner will play either No. 13 Arcadia (4-5) or 20th-seeded White Castle (2-8).