Staff Writer

After seeing his starters record all but five outs over the previous four games, Louisiana Tech head coach Lane Burroughs had to finally turn to his bullpen in Sunday’s series finale at Tulane.

And although it didn’t go without a number of stressful pitches in the ninth inning, Burroughs and Co. completed the three-game sweep over the Green Wave as Tyler Follis induced a ground ball out with the bases loaded in the 8-6 win on Sunday.

“Those were three hard outs to get today (in the ninth inning),” Burroughs said.

But the Diamond ‘Dogs bullpen made it a happy ride home to Ruston, where Tech brings a five-game winning streak into play against a rising ULM squad Tuesday at 6 p.m. at JC Love Field at Pat Patterson Park.

“ULM is playing really well,” Burroughs said. “They are a good team, an older team like us. They beat Ole Miss last weekend, beat Oklahoma State in a midweek and then won their first Sun Belt series this weekend. They are playing well and are well coached. I expect another great crowd. I am really looking forward to it. It’s our last midweek game on the schedule until May when we play LSU.”

Tech (14-5), coming off victories over No. 1 Arkansas and No. 4 Ole Miss, got brilliant pitching in the first two games in New Orleans. The Bulldogs won 2-0 and 4-0 on Friday and Saturday behind complete-game gems from Jonathan Fincher (3-0) and Ryan Jennings . Fincher needed just 95 pitches in a one-hit, complete game shutout Friday. Jennings (2-1) used 119 pitches in his two-hit, complete game goose egg of the Green Wave on Saturday.

So when Jarrett Whorff, coming off a complete-game shutout of top-ranked, previously unbeaten Arkansas one week ago, only went 6.0 innings on Sunday, Burroughs had to do something he hasn’t done much of recently … go to the pen.

“I thought the way we won, a couple of different ways, this weekend was good for us,” said Burroughs. “We didn’t use a single reliever in the first two games and then had to use three just in the ninth inning today. We were up early and then got behind.

“It was good to see our guys fight back on the road in front of a hostile environment. It showed our maturity. Our experience really showed up today. I am very very proud of the guys. We had some big hits throughout the lineup. It just seemed like it was somebody different throughout the day today.”

Sunday’s game saw Tech grab an early 3-0 lead on an RBI double by Steele Netterville and a two-run home run by Manny Garcia in the top of the first. However, unlike the first two games, Tulane found some offense and took a 4-3 lead after plating two in the first and two more in the second against Whorff (4-1).

“I’m proud of Jarrett,” Burroughs said. “He didn’t have his best stuff today and he still competed his tail off. And Tyler Follis, the grizzly old veteran, came in and got the final out. None of it was easy.

“It was good for us to go through that today as we get ready for Conference USA play, especially on the road. This was really the first series we have played on the road this year, and it was against a good team in a hostile environment. To get behind and fight back was probably good for us. Today was definitely more of a hitter’s day. We drove a couple of them out of the park. We just never quit.”

Tech rallied with three runs in the top of the sixth, as Netterville doubled home one run and Adarius Myers singled home two more. Leading 6-5 in the eighth, Hunter Wells homered and Parker Bates scored on a sacrifice fly by Garcia.

Tulane loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth, trailing by just two, but Follis retired the Green Wave cleanup hitter on a full-count pitch to end the game.

Photo by TOM MORRIS

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Staff Writer

“Embarrassing.”

That was how Grambling football coach Broderick Fobbs described Saturday’s home 48-21 loss to UAPB, leaving the Tigers winless at the midway point of the spring’s six-game schedule.

It reportedly also left the Tigers without another offensive assistant coach. Coordinator Mark Orlando resigned a week earlier in the wake of a 17-10 loss to Prairie View. Kenn Rashad of HBCUSports.com reported Sunday that Fobbs dismissed quarterbacks coach Kendrick Nord, who took over the play calling role for last week.

Reading between the lines of Fobbs’ postgame comments Saturday afternoon, the Nord news is plausible.

“We are a work in progress and there’s a lot of things going on,” said Fobbs. “It’s up to me to make sure I get it corrected. Everything is on the table and everybody is being evaluated.

“We have to be better and play better football. Today we just didn’t do anything right. “It’s not a player deal. It’s all coaches … offensive coaches.”

The Tigers never led, but were within 14-7 at the half. Over the next 18 minutes, UAPB blitzed Grambling by 34-7.

A blocked punt for a score and touchdown passes of 60, 28 and 31 yards were the most damaging plays in the onslaught. It came against a defense that had allowed only one touchdown after halftime in each of the first two games, both one-score defeats.

The stats didn’t look overwhelming (402-368, Golden Lions in total offense) and the Tigers had just two turnovers, an interception and fumble. The Tigers managed only 12 first downs running or passing the ball and sputtered offensively all afternoon at Eddie G. Robinson Stadium, netting 2.6 rushing yards per carry while being sacked five times.

UAPB (2-0) opened the scoring with a 30-yard interception return as new starting quarterback Elijah Walker was victimized on his second snap. He finished 13-26 for 174 yards and a touchdown, while the starter in the first two games, Geremy Hickbottom, went 5-10 for 30 yards and was sacked on three other pass plays.

Keilon Elder ran for 65 yards on 11 carries and threw a 77-yard TD on a halfback pass to Kash Foley.

BASEBALL: A home series with Texas Southern provided a spectacular turn of fortune for previously winless Grambling.The Tigers pulled off a sweep with three one-run triumphs – 5-4 on Friday, 4-3 on Saturday and a 14-13 slugfest Sunday.

Marc Luna struck out 13 visitors Friday, working into the eighth inning. The G-Men got the game-winner when Cameron Phelts, who had scored on an error in the fifth to break a 3-3 tie, did it again in the seventh, beating a throw to the plate in dramatic fashion.

On Saturday, Kerry Boykins Jr. took a three-hit shutout into the eighth inning, but Texas Southern rallied and nearly knotted it on the game’s final play. Second baseman Jeremy Almaguer’s relay throw got to catcher Ben Avila, who made a sensational tag on a sliding baserunner to preserve the win.

Sunday, Grambling (3-12, 3-3) opened a 10-4 lead going to the fifth inning, but TSU (4-16) kept pecking away, scoring in each of the first eight innings. The visitors tied it at 10 with a three-run seventh, then moved ahead 13-10 in the eighth.

The home Tigers responded by knotting it in the bottom of the eighth and winning it in walk-off fashion. Jahmoi Percival delivered the game-winner on a one-out single scoring Chrystan Mervilus, who led off with a base hit that was followed by a single from Almaguer.

Photos by T. SCOTT BOATRIGHT/LPJ

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Staff Writer

MONROE — One point from perfection.

That’s how good the Louisiana High School Athletic Association state powerlifting meet went for Cedar Creek at Fant-Ewing Coliseum on the campus of the University of Louisiana-Monroe. After the boys won the Division V state championship Thursday, the girls were one point shy of tying Calvary Baptist for the state crown Friday.

“Our girls watched the boys celebrate like that and it got them even more motivated,” said Cedar Creek head coach Jacob Angevine.

“It’s a great showing by the girls, but at the same time, it’s tough knowing we were just one point short. There’s a bright future for the Creek.”

No doubt.

With only one senior (Kyleigh Davis, who broke the state record in her weight class in the bench press), the Lady Cougars had 10 of 11 competitors finish on the awards podium. Davis’ teammates were all freshmen and sophomores, and there’s great interest in the junior high classes.

“Our girls are already looking ahead to next year and calling it their ‘Revenge Tour.’ They were asking if we could do a Saturday morning workout, and I told them they’d be sore after all that great lifting,” Angevine said. “They were. But they’ll be back training very soon.”

Emma Moore, a freshman, broke the state 114-pound squat and total lift records and was one of three individual state champions among the Creek girls. Ainsley Riley and Olivia Salter also captured state titles in their weight classes.

Sophomore Tatum Brasher broke the 165-pound state bench press record. Peyton Muse, also a sophomore, broke the 132-pound deadlift state record.

Angevine and assistants Justin Chelette, Jason Lillo, Paul Riley and Josh Robinson were ecstatic about the performances of their competitors, starting with the boys.

“We had an awesome group of seniors,” Angevine said, citing 275-pound state champ Trace Barnett, 242-pound state champ Caden Lillo and team captain J.B. Johnson, whose football injury kept him from competing this spring.

“They lost to Delhi as sophomores, and then Covid shut down everything last year when we really believed we had a great shot to win it,” said Angevine. “We got a couple of senior football offensive linemen out, (state champion) Jackson Cuthbert and Ben Merchant (second in his class), who had big impacts.”

Led by five individual state champs — adding freshman Lawson Lillo and junior Jed Worthey — the Creek boys met their lofty expectations. Caden Lillo won Outstanding Lifter/Heavy Platform in the division while Worthey took the honor for the light platform.

Four state records fell: Caden Lillo in the 242-pound bench press, Lawson Lillo in the 123-pound bench, Austin Webb in the 148-pound bench and Worthey in the 132-pound squat.

The assistant coaches were certain the Cougars had outdistanced their competition late in the day but Angevine didn’t relax until the official announcement.

“I didn’t want to believe them, in spite of how confident they were. I told my principal he didn’t hire me to do math,” he said. “But when the announcement was made, it was incredible. Winning the state championship was a dream come true for all of us.”

In Division I competition, Ruston High’s top finishes in a power-packed field came from Dennis Williams in the 275-pound class (fifth) and Ainsley Wood in the girls’ 198-pound class (sixth).

BASEBALL: Ruston (12-5) has now won six of its last seven after a pair of heavy-hitting wins Friday over Claiborne Christian (8-1) and Saturday past a talented Sterlington club (9-3). The Bearcats will meet Sterlington again this evening on the road at 5:30, and start district play Thursday at home against West Monroe (6 p.m.).

Ruston recorded 11 hits in each win. Hadyn Shoemaker homered against Claiborne Christian and Jack Whitaker went deep in the Sterlington victory, as J.R. Tollet was the winning pitcher and collected three hits.

Cedar Creek (8-7) faced stout competition in its trip to the Acadiana area, but ended with a 4-1 win over Jennings after dropping contests to Comeaux (5-2) and North Vermilion (13-3). The Cougars visit Union Parish this evening at 6, then have a break until April.

Nathan Gremillion had a two-run first-inning single to start the victory. Brady Wade scattered six hits and struck out six, going the distance on the bump.

North Vermilion busted open a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the fifth and poured on nine runs in the sixth. Comeaux also broke a 2-all knot in the bottom of the fifth and prevailed despite notching only three hits, although the Spartans swiped nine bases.

Photos courtesy Cedar Creek School/Christy Mabou

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Staff Writer

FRICSO, Texas — Coming into Friday’s first round contest in the National Invitation Tournament, the Louisiana Tech basketball team had trailed by double-digits in just three games this season.
Tech lost all three of those. And the Bulldogs found themselves in that same situation inside the Comerica Center in Frisco, Texas, down 10 at halftime to Ole Miss.

This time around, the Bulldogs stormed back, using a massive 20-2 run to take down the Rebels by a final score of 70-61 in Frisco, Texas.

LA Tech (22-7) advanced to the quarterfinals on Thursday night, facing C-USA foe WKU in a postseason showdown between the West Division and East Division champs. Tipoff in Frisco is set for 9 p.m. on ESPN2.

The Ole Miss upset, over a team that narrowly missed the NCAA Tournament as one of the first four teams left out of the at-large pool, was nothing new for the Dunkin’ Dogs. The program has made a habit in the last decade of stockpiling victories over Power 5 teams, and doing so in the postseason on several occasions.

It was the eight-year anniversary of the ‘Dogs going down to Tallahassee, Florida, in the first round of the 2013 NIT and defeating Florida State. In 2014, after winning in overtime at Oklahoma during the regular season, they went to Athens, Georgia, to beat the SEC Bulldogs in the NIT.

A year after that in the 2015 NIT, Texas A&M found itself on the losing end to LA Tech. Then Ohio State. Then Wichita State. Then Mississippi State last season. Now, Ole Miss joins the club.
The first half was a tale of two halves. The Bulldogs used a swarming defense to jump out to an 18-8 lead. However, the Rebels started running wild and completely flipped the script, taking a 37-27 edge into the locker room.

Whether it was a great halftime speech or great halftime adjustments or a combination of both, LA Tech completely owned the second frame, outscoring Ole Miss, 43-24, during the final 20 minutes, which included that 20-2 run that spanned over eight minutes.

“I told our team at halftime, we got into a weird place where our offensive struggles were affecting our defense,” said Tech coach Eric Konkol. “We had to get back to being gritty and tough on the defensive end. That is what we did in the second half.”

There was a lot to like during that winning stretch. Kenneth Lofton, Jr. dropped 11 of his team-high 22 points, flashing his “Bully Ball” against another SEC team (he had 17 points and 12 boards early this season at LSU).

“They did not double team me, so it was my time to shine out there,” said Lofton, Jr. “I showed them what I have and what I can do.”

There was also Cobe Williams, who drained one of his two 3-pointers — with one hand. (The other is heavily taped due to a broken finger). Despite that, the point guard played 17 minutes and registered eight points, three boards and three of the team’s whopping 15 steals.

“Cobe is a special human being,” Konkol said. “He is the engine, the heartbeat of this group and we saw a really gutsy performance from him and our team in the second half.”

Photo by ROGER STEINMAN

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Staff Writer

Louisiana Tech’s bowling team worked its way out of the losers bracket and advanced to the championship match against Vanderbilt but ultimately fell to the Commodores to finish as the runner-ups at the Southland Conference Bowling League Tournament in Harahan.

“Even though we came up a little bit short, we proved to everybody that we can compete at the highest level,” said Tech head coach Matt Nantais. “This team did not give up all weekend. I couldn’t be more proud of our performances this weekend.”

Allie Leiendecker and Danielle Jedlicki were both named All-Tournament following their performances. In the traditional matches of the tournament, Leiendecker recorded a 223.17 pin average while Jedlicki averaged a 200.67.

Tech will find out its fate for the 2021 National Collegiate Women’s Bowling Championship on the selection show Wednesday, March 31, via web stream at 3 p.m. on NCAA.com.

SOFTBALL: The Lady Techsters took two out of three this weekend in a road non-conference series against Memphis at the Tigers Softball Complex.

Tech (7-12) swept Saturday’s doubleheader, defeating the Tigers 7-6 and 10-6 before falling in Sunday’s finale 9-1 in six innings.

Freshman Tristin Court and sophomore Brooke Diaz both hit their first collegiate home runs in the seventh inning of Saturday’s 10-6 Tech win. The Lady Techsters took early big leads in both of Saturday’s games and then hung on late for the victories.

Tech travels to UL-Lafayette on Wednesday. First pitch set for 6 p.m.

SOCCER: Louisiana Tech honored five seniors on Sunday and the Lady Techsters celebrated by defeating ULM 2-0 at the Ruston Sports Complex.

It was Tech’s sixth straight victory on the pitch against the Warhawks.

Senior Elizabeth Doll registered her first goal of the season, giving Tech a 1-0 lead in the 42nd minute of the first half. Erin Chung added an insurance goal in the 73rd minute, her second of the year.
LA Tech has two matches remaining in the regular season, including a road trip to Southern Miss on Sunday, April 4 at 2 p.m.

TENNIS: Tech (6-8, 1-3 C-USA) dropped a pair of Conference USA matches this weekend, falling to UAB (4-3) and Southern Miss (5-2) at the USM Tennis Courts in Hattiesburg.

“We learned a hard lesson today about showing up sharp every match,” said coach Amanda Stone.

“Bottom line, we are really consistently competing overall. Once we get these small things figured out, they will make a big difference in our future matches.”

LA Tech will next travel to Denton to play North Texas at 3 p.m. Friday.

VOLLEYBALL: LA Tech dropped a three-set decision to UTEP in Conference USA action Sunday afternoon at the Thomas Assembly Center.
Tech lost the match by set scores of 17-25, 22-25 and 18-25. The Lady Techsters (1-18, 0-11) will play their final contest of the 2021 season today at noon against the Miners. Admission is free.

FOOTBALL: Louisiana Tech opened spring practice as the Bulldogs hit the turf at Joe Aillet Stadium on Friday and Saturday.

“Incredible to be on the grass again,” said Tech coach Skip Holtz. “This is my favorite time of year. I couldn’t be more excited to be out here, to see what this team can become.”

The Bulldogs welcome three new assistant coaches, five DI transfers and two new signees this spring.
Tech will practice today, Wednesday and Friday this week as part of its 15 total spring practices leading up to the April 24 spring game.

Bowling trophy courtesy of LA Tech Athletics Media Relations
LA Tech football photo of Skip Holtz by T. SCOTT BOATRIGHT/LPJ

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TODAY
LA Tech Volleyball, home vs. Texas-El Paso, noon
Ruston HS Baseball, at Sterlington, 5:30 p.m.
Grambling Volleyball, at Prairie View, 6:30

TUESDAY
Cedar Creek Softball, home vs. Oak Grove, 4:30 p.m. JV, 6 p.m. varsity
LA Tech Baseball, home vs. ULM, 6 p.m.
Cedar Creek Baseball, at St. Frederick, 4 p.m. JV, 6 p.m. varsity

WEDNESDAY
Grambling Baseball, at Jackson State, 6 p.m.
LA Tech Softball, at UL-Lafayette, 6 p.m.

THURSDAY
Cedar Creek Softball, home vs. Lakeside, 4:30 p.m. JV, 6 p.m. varsity
Choudrant HS Baseball, home vs. Quitman, 5:30 p.m.
Ruston HS Baseball, home vs. West Monroe, 6 p.m.
Cedar Creek Baseball, home vs. River Oaks, 6 p.m.
LA Tech Bulldog Basketball, NIT vs. Western Kentucky, Frisco, Texas, 9 p.m. (ESPN2)

FRIDAY
Cedar Creek Softball, home for Caroline Menzina tournament, times TBD
Grambling Softball, home vs. Mississippi Valley, 3 p.m.
Ruston HS Track & Field, Hoss Garrett Relays, Hoss Garrett Stadium (Ruston), field events 3:30 p.m., running events 5:15 p.m.
Grambling Volleyball at SWAC Tournament, times TBA
LA Tech Tennis, at Tulsa, 3 p.m.
Grambling Baseball, at Frisco, Texas, vs. Prairie View A&M, 3 p.m. (Lone Star Diamond Classic)
LA Tech Baseball, at Southern Mississippi, 6 p.m.
Grambling Soccer, at Southern, 7 p.m.

SATURDAY
Cedar Creek Softball, home for Caroline Menzina tournament, times TBD
Grambling Softball, home vs. Mississippi Valley, noon
LA Tech Track & Field, at Rice, all day
Grambling Volleyball at SWAC Tournament, times TBA
Grambling Tennis, at Alabama A&M, 10 a.m.
Ruston HS Baseball, at West Monroe, 1 p.m.
LA Tech Softball, at Tulsa, 2 p.m. (first game of a doubleheader)
LA Tech Baseball, at Southern Mississippi, 2 p.m. (first game of a doubleheader)
Grambling Football, at Alabama A&M, 2 p.m.
Cedar Creek Baseball, at Grant, 2 p.m.
Grambling Baseball, at Frisco, Texas, vs. Prairie View A&M, 3 p.m. (Lone Star Diamond Classic)

SUNDAY
LA Tech Golf, Hootie at Bulls Bay Intercollegiate, Awendaw, S.C., all day
Grambling Volleyball at SWAC Tournament, times TBA
LA Tech Tennis, at Oral Roberts, 10 a.m.
LA Tech Softball, at Tulsa, noon
LA Tech Baseball, at Southern Mississippi, 1 p.m.
Grambling Baseball, at Frisco, Texas, vs. Prairie View A&M, 1 p.m. (Lone Star Diamond Classic)
Grambling Soccer, at Jackson State, 1 p.m.

LA Tech Volleyball photo by Tom Morris

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The City of Ruston expresses it appreciation to Louisiana Tech University’s Habitat for Humanity Club for taking initiative and reaching out to the city when members saw a need to clean up the area near campus on U.S. Highway 80.

Courtesy photo

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Residents at the Arbor & The Terrace of Ruston Retirement & Assisted Living Facility recently participated in a “Give Back” project by making goodie bags for locals who deserve it.

The city of Ruston was chosen for the month of March because they have been through so much this past year, and are always hard at work.

The Arbor & The Terrace thanks Mayor Ronny Walker and the city of Ruston employees.

Submitted photos

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By Keefer Patterson
Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) Public Affairs

Airmen and civilians assigned to Air Force Global Strike Command are eligible to take courses in nuclear command, control and communication (NC3).

To the untrained eye and mind, a first glance into the nuclear enterprise can be somewhat disorienting. Often referred to as a system of systems, there are many moving pieces that bring together NC3.

The NC3 courses taught at the Cyber Innovation Center in Bossier City provide both introduction and education to AFGSC Airmen and civilians alike. These courses ensure participants are informed of the processes in place and how the nuclear enterprise functions as a whole.

Furthermore, the courses provide historical context and increase understanding of the U.S. nuclear triad and its importance in keeping a deterrent focused force.

“Understanding the history kind of gives you the bigger picture as to why NC3 is needed,” said Angelia Childs, PhD, AFGSC information technology cybersecurity specialist. “What really wrapped it up for me was when they started talking about the NC3 weapon system. It made more sense learning that it’s not just a weapon but a system of a system.”

Facilitated by the Louisiana Tech Research Institute (LTRI) and funded by the Air Force Institute of Technology, there are currently four NC3 courses taught at the CIC, which include NC3 150, 200, 300 and 400.

“These courses are considered professional continuing education,” said Warren Ward, LTRI director of operations. “In the entry-level courses, you learn at the secret classification level how to tie in your role into the bigger picture in supporting USSTRATCOM and the national command authorities. When you get into the 300 level and up courses, we’re going to go into higher classification topics where we will have deeper discussions on the essential functions of NC3.”

From aircraft maintainers to pilots, from cyber specialists to missileers, Airmen and civilians from across the command come to attend the course.

“While adhering to COVID-19 restrictions, I was able to travel in from Minot Air Force Base to take the NC3 150 course,” said Airman Phillip Telles-Ferreira, Minot command post emergency action controller at Minot AFB, North Dakota. “After concluding the course, we toured the Barksdale Command Post and compared some of their set-ups to ours. We also visited the AFGSC HQ and the NC3 Center.”

As time progresses and COVID-19 restrictions lessen, NC3 instructors would like to continue to grow course participation and see more diversity in experience.

“Until pandemic restrictions are lifted, I expect the largest part of our students will come from Barksdale, but we are trying to bring in individuals from other organizations as well,” Ward said.

“I think the interaction between participants who come from different career fields at different bases is important to the learning environment. Because the Navy is a big part of the triad, I’d like to eventually get some Navy personnel into the classes as well to really broaden the perspective.”

To those unfamiliar with NC3, ask yourself, “What does NC3 have to do with my job within the nuclear mission?” and consider taking an NC3 course.

For more information on NC3 courses visit ltri.org.

 

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The Give for Good event was established in 2014 by the Community Foundation of North Louisiana, and since then it has raised over $12 million for the Ruston community!
Give For Good allows the community to make a contribution to causes they feel strongly about.
So, how can you get involved? Mark your calendar for May 4! By starting now you can save to help the Ruston Farmers Market continue serving its community every week.
Did you know that one of north Louisiana’s largest events takes place entirely online? In 2020, Give For Good garnered over $1.9 million for area nonprofits. Those funds came from 5,599 donors representing 49 different states. That means that people from across the country are coming together to fund important initiatives in North Louisiana. This year, our community needs you now more than ever.
With a minimum donation amount of only $10, everyone can be a philanthropist. Simply visit giveforgoodnla.org to give directly to your organizations of choice.
HOW TO GIVE:
1. Visit giveforgoodnla.org on May 4.
2. Choose your favorite causes and add as many organizations to your cart as you like.
3. Give your best and check out in one easy step. You’ll receive a tax receipt immediately.
Together we can create a stronger, more vibrant north Louisiana!

 

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Betty Jo Neal Head
September 6, 1929 – March 20, 2021
A family memorial service will be held at a later date.

Tommy Lane Boddie
March 9, 1953 – March 20, 2021
Visitation: Monday, March 22, 2021 at Cook Baptist Church from 5 – 8 p.m.
Service: Tuesday, March 23, 2021 at Cook Baptist Church at 10 a.m.

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Staff Writer

When your back’s against the wall, there’s no place like home.

Although Grambling State’s 16-game home-field win streak was snapped March 6 when Jackson State prevailed 33-28, home is still a very comfortable lair for the Tigers.

An 0-2 start to the six-game spring season has the G-Men desperately seeking success Saturday as Arkansas-Pine Bluff visits Grambling in a Southwestern Athletic Conference matchup.

Kickoff is set for noon at Eddie G. Robinson Stadium.

While coach Broderick Fobbs says the Tigers aren’t in panic mode, the same can’t be said for a segment of the fan base, unaccustomed to an 0-2 start in the SWAC since Fobbs took over the program.

And he’s determined to get things headed in a better direction.

“I’m focused on what it takes so we can be the type team this organization, and Grambling’s alumni, deserve,” he said Monday.

UAPB (1-0), which used three Southern turnovers to great advantage two weeks ago in its only game so far, presents challenges for Grambling.

“They’ve been a thorn in our side in the last two years (a late win in 2019 on the road, and an overtime home victory in 2019 for Grambling),” said Fobbs. “It’s a really good program on the rise. They have dynamic receivers and are very skilled in the secondary. We have our hands full.”

All eyes will be on the Tigers’ offense, which faltered on a goalline fumble with 1:04 left that denied the Tigers a likely win over Jackson State, then could only post 10 points last week against Prairie View, and failed to score on a drive inside the 10 with under four minutes remaining. Offensive coordinator Mark Orlando resigned a day a later, leaving playcalling duties Saturday to Tigers quarterback coach Kendrick Nord.\

How Fobbs and Nord handle the quarterback situation will be a focal point for fans, but whether it’s Geremy Hickbottom or Elijah Walker, Fobbs plans to be “more aggressive” taking shots downfield and looks for more consistent execution offensively.

It is the second and final home game for Grambling, not counting the Bayou Classic in Shreveport to wrap up the season a month from now.

BASEBALL: The Tigers (0-12, 0-3) get their first home weekend against Texas Southern in their first full SWAC series, beginning Friday evening at 6.

A late eruption by visiting Jackson State (11-5) spoiled Wednesday night’s home opener, as JSU went home with a 15-8 win by scoring seven runs in the last two frames, six in the top of the eighth to break open a nailbiter. It was a non-conference matchup.

The G-Men managed only six hits, but one of them was a grand slam by Jahmoi Percival in the third inning, coming on the heels of a solo shot in the first from Jordyn Smith. Joseph Gunn lashed a bases-empty homer in the fifth to knot it at 6-all, but JSU’s big eighth-inning uprising broke it open.

SOFTBALL:  Postponements have sidelined the Lady Tigers until next Friday. Their weekend series at Jackson State was shelved after a neighborhood matchup with Louisiana Tech earlier this week was delayed indefinitely.

Photo courtesy of GSUTigers.com

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By T.  Scott Boatright

Phillip DeWoody, who was convicted of armed robbery and aggravated kidnapping charges in Lincoln Parish in 1993, pleaded guilty Tuesday and was sentenced to three life sentences for the murder of a 72-year-old women in Ville Platte as well as the  rape and kidnapping of a second woman.

DeWoody pleaded guilty before 27th Judicial District Court Judge Ledricka Thierry to charges of first-degree murder, aggravated kidnapping and first-degree rape, and was sentenced to life without probation, parole or suspension of sentence on each of the three charges. 

His story of a long history of violence includes the shooting death of a girl when he was 13 and  a chapter involving Lincoln Parish that began on Aug. 3, 1993. 

According to Lincoln Parish Court documents, on that day DeWoody helped a Ruston family whose car he was driving behind caught fire in Bossier City as they were returning home from the Shreveport airport after taking a family vacation in Thailand. DeWoody followed the family and their damaged car to Ruston. 

But when the couple waved him off at the La. 33 exit in Ruston, signaling they were close enough to Suburban Mobile Home Park where they lived, DeWoody didn’t drive on. 

Instead, court documents say that he flagged them down, asking if he could use their bathroom before he went on his way.

The couple allowed DeWoody into their house and he went into the bathroom and reportedly came out a few minutes later brandishing a knife and demanded money, jewelry and guns. Records say that after a scuffle with the couple, DeWoody ran out of the house and escaped in his car.

DeWoody’s vehicle was spotted in Webster Parish, and a chase ensued, reaching speeds of 120 mph before he crashed his car in Bossier Parish and fled on foot. About two-and-a-half hours later, DeWoody was captured while hiding in the woods and brought to the Lincoln Parish Detention Center where he was held on $100,000 bond.

On Oct. 20 of that year, DeWoody escaped while a guard was in the cell dispensing medication. Reports say that DeWoody ran into the booking area, where he passed a male officer and pulled out what appeared to be a sharp weapon-like object, grabbed a female officer and threatened her. Using the female officer as a shield, he forced his way out of the building, reportedly telling the other correction officers to stop following him.

DeWoody then released the hostage and escaped on foot down Louisiana Hwy. 33.

Court records report that while DeWoody was still on the loose he robbed and raped a 71-year-old Bossier Parish woman. The crimes were never prosecuted at the victim’s request because of her age and undefined health considerations, records say.

DeWoody was eventually captured in Fort Worth and after he was returned to Lincoln Parish, where he made another unsuccessful escape attempt brandishing a homemade knife.

There was no trial as DeWoody pleaded guilty to all of the Lincoln Parish charges against him: two counts of armed robbery, one count of aggravated escape and one count of  second-degree kidnapping and was sentenced to two concurrent 99 year sentences for the armed robbery, 10 years for the escape and 40 years for the kidnapping. 

DeWoody was first eligible to seek parole in 2013 under Act 790, a state law that makes prisoners eligible to be considered if they are over age 45 and have served a prescribed percentage of their sentence, depending on whether they are first- or second-time felony convictions. 

After DeWoody became eligible for parole, the law was amended to exclude prisoners convicted of certain crimes, including kidnapping. But DeWoody was grandfathered in under the original law.

On June 10, 2019, the Louisiana Board of Pardons Committee on Parole voted unanimously to parole DeWoody. He went to Opelousas and was living at The Refinery, a men’s homeless shelter there.

But DeWoody’s life of crime would soon continue and on Tuesday he was sentenced in the death of Joyce Thomas, a deaf 72-year-old who was last seen leaving her apartment in Ville Platte with DeWoody on Feb. 26, 2020. 

DeWoody reportedly text-messaged and called the woman’s family with ransom demands and sent a video of her inside an abandoned home in St. Landry Parish. He threatened her family not to involve law enforcement, an affidavit said.

Photo courtesy of St. Landry Parish Jail

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By T. Scott Boatright

They have big beards, but even bigger hearts.

Members of Beard Mobb Louisiana last weekend delivered two pick-up trucks of food and a donation of $12,432 to the Food Bank of Northeast Louisiana from proceeds collected during a group together held on the weekend of March 5-7 at Simsboro native and Louisiana Tech University employee Eric “BooFont” Fontenot’s home in Calhoun.

“We put together a charity beard competition,” Fontenot said. “That’s what each chapter is all about. We have around 30 chapters around the U.S. and we’re all about helping people. We held it on my back porch and one acre backyard. We had 100 people and we weren’t on top of each other. If you wanted to wear a mask you could, If you didn’t, we didn’t care. It was awesome. It was beautiful. It brought tears.” 

The beard competition consisted of multiple categories, including under-four-inch business beard, and other beard categories including some for women and even children. The entry was $15 with $5 for any additional category.

“The women are the “Whiskerinas,” Fontenot said. “You’ve got a craft Wiskerina where you build your beard out of whatever. Then you have realistic Whiskerina where you can’t even tell if it’s real growth or not. They can be created out of anything.”

Entry fees weren’t the only source of the proceeds collected by the group.

“We set up raffle tables for people who wanted to donate stuff to raffle,” Fontenot said. “Beard Mobb Louisiana went through our own pockets and also held an auction. We learned early the auction was big. We just made Mobb-related crafts and things that people went crazy over, because there’s nothing like that one-of-a-kind stuff anywhere.”

Fontenot said the idea of what charity the group would donate to this year was literally mailed in.

“Five or six months ago we started thinking about this year’s event and one day I checked the mail driving in and tossed it on the passenger seat of my truck,” Fontenot said. “So when I parked and went inside and started going through the mail. I saw this little card that had come in that said Northeast Louisiana Food Bank and suddenly I broke out in goosebumps. My wife Phyllis was standing in front of the kitchen, and my mouth dropped for a minute before I looked up at her and told her, ‘Well here we go. We know what we’re doing it for this year.’ “

It was the third time a Beard Mobb Louisiana event was used in conjunction with helping a charity. Last year the group donated $2,500 to the War Veterans Home and the previous year the first competition Beard Mobb Louisiana was held and collected $1,200 for the Northeast Louisiana Ronald McDonald House.

“That first one was small but we just went with it,” Fontenot said. “So we went from $1,200 to $2,500 to $12,400. I’m already excited to start thinking about next year.”

Photo courtesy of Food Bank of Northeast Louisiana

 

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Staff writer

Louisiana Tech spring football practice begins today.

Simple yet exciting words for Bulldog football fans.

Unlike last spring when the college sports world came to a screeching halt just days before head coach Skip Holtz and Co. were set to open spring practice, Louisiana Tech fans will see their team in practice gear starting at 4 p.m. today.

As part of today’s opening practice, fans who renewed their season tickets by end of day Wednesday will get to participate in the first ever “Meet the Bulldogs” event as Holtz will address those individuals in a private session, giving some behind-the-scenes insight into the roster and key position battles.

The Bulldogs are coming off a 5-5 season that culminated with a loss to Georgia Southern in the New Orleans Bowl, Tech’s seventh straight bowl appearance. The Bulldogs saw their roller coaster season highlighted by a double overtime win over eventual C-USA champion Alabama-Birmingham in late October.

Tech’s spring roster will include four Division I transfers including running back Marcus Williams Jr. (Rocky Mount, N.C./App State) and defensive backs Baylen Buchanan (Lawrenceville, Ga./Tennessee), Elijah Hamilton (Roswell, Ga./Vanderbilt) and Myles Mason (Trussville, Ala./Arkansas).

“We’re really excited about the four guys who are coming here in the spring that just started classes,” Holtz said. “When you look at the three defensive backs, they bring size, maturity and experience to a secondary that really needs it. This bolsters the back end with three guys who look like they are going to create some great competition this spring and really will be something to watch as these guys continue to compete.

 “The other place where we wanted to make an immediate contribution was at the running back position. We had lost both Israel Tucker and Justin Henderson, who both just graduated. With both of those upperclassmen leaving, we felt there were some people in the transfer portal. These guys have played a lot of college football and that’s what makes me excited about adding them to a very talented and also a very young roster.”

Tech will conduct its second practice on Saturday evening before settling into a Monday-Wednesday-Friday routine for the new few weeks. The Louisiana Tech spring game is tentatively set for April 24.

LA Tech’s six home games at Joe Aillet Stadium during the 2021 season includes four Conference USA matchups in North Texas (Sept. 25), Texas-San Antonio (Oct. 23), Charlotte (Nov. 13) and Southern Miss (Nov. 20). Tech’s home slate opens with a pair of non-conference opponents in Southeastern Louisiana (Sept. 11) and SMU (Sept. 18).

In 2021, season ticket prices for Bulldog football will remain the same. Fans are encouraged to renew or purchase their season tickets as early as possible to secure their seats for next season as the university is cautiously optimistic that football game days will return to normal while abiding by state health guidelines.

Photo by DARRELL JAMES

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By T. Scott Boatright

MONROE — It was a down to the wire finish for Cedar Creek School’s heavy metal heroes.

And in the end, the Cougars outlasted Calvary Baptist to take the 2021 Louisiana High School Athletic Association Division V boys powerlifting championship Thursday at Fant-Ewing Coliseum on the campus of the University of Louisiana at Monroe.

Cedar Creek totaled 55 points while Calvary Baptist scored 47. Both teams ended the day well in front of third-place finisher St. Mary, which totaled 11 points.

The Cougars’ state title is the sixth in school history and first since 2006. Cedar Creek took state championships in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and now 2021.

Cedar Creek also finished as state runners-up in 2008 and 2009. Last year’s championships were halted as the COVID-19 pandemic was just starting to shut the country down.

The Cougars, competing under head coach Jacob Angevine and assistants Jason Lillo, Paul Riley, Justin Chelette and Josh Robinson, had five athletes take individual titles on Thursday — Lawson Lillo (123-pound and under category), Jed Worthey (132), Jackson Cuthbert (220), Caden Lillo (242) and Trace Barnett (275) each took the podium for top honors.

BASEBALL (Staff report): Ruston (10-5) topped visiting Ouachita Christian 8-4 Thursday evening behind a 10-hit attack, led by Jack Whitaker (double, two singles, two RBIs), Haydn Shoemaker (two doubles) and Cade Patterson (double, single, two RBIs). The Bearcats put up four runs in the bottom of the first and added three more in the fourth before small school power OCS pushed across a three-spot in the sixth to stay in range.

On Tuesday RHS faced one of the state’s strongest squads, Tioga, and the Indians needed a four-run rally in the bottom of the sixth to escape with a 6-5 triumph. The Bearcats piled up 10 hits against a squad that no-hit them 12-0 on Feb. 23. Joshua Miller had three hits and three RBIs while Patterson drove in two runs on a pair of hits and Whitaker also cracked two hits. All three had a double each.

Ruston is on the road today at 4 p.m. to face Claiborne Christian, then visits another small school titan, Sterlington, at 1 p.m. Saturday. The Bearcats will also meet Sterlington at 5:30 Monday evening.

Cedar Creek goes to Cajun country today to face Comeaux of Lafayette at 4 p.m., then meets North Vermilion Saturday at 10 a.m. and Jennings at 12:30. The Cougars (7-5) travel to Union Parish Monday at 6.

Creek won 3-2 Tuesday at home over Union Parish as Brady Wade scattered six hits, struck out five and walked only one, throwing 69 of his 94 pitches for strikes. J.T. Stephens had two of the Cougars’ seven hits and Zach Smith drove in a pair of runs on a base hit and a third-inning sacrifice fly that stood up as the game-winning RBI.

Photos courtesy of Cedar Creek School/Christy Mabou

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Staff Writer

FRISCO, Texas — It is “Beat Ole Miss” week for Louisiana Tech fans.

Days after the Diamond ‘Dogs dismantled the Rebels, 13-1, at J.C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park, the Dunkin’ Dogs will battle the Rebels on the hardwood in the National Invitation Tournament.

The first-round matchup goes down tonight at 8 p.m. on ESPN2.  Fans can also tune in to KXKZ 107.5 FM or the LA Tech Athletics app to listen to Malcolm Butler and Jack Thigpen call the action.

Last week, LA Tech (21-7) left the Ford Center in Frisco disappointed after falling, 54-48, to eventual champion North Texas in the C-USA Tournament semifinals.

The Bulldogs have returned to the Dallas suburb, this time at the Comerica Center to take part in the postseason for the first time since 2016. They open against an Ole Miss team (16-11) that barely missed an NCAA Tournament at-large invitation, and is one of the top four seeds in the 16-team NIT.

Thirty-five years ago, Wayne Smith and Co. became the first Bulldog squad to play in the NIT, making it all the way to the Final Four where they defeated Florida in the consolation game.  This is the 10th time Tech has taken part in the event.

Isaiah Crawford will be a key piece to LA Tech. The third-team All-Conference USA forward averaged 15.0 points while shooting 57.9 percent from the field in the two C-USA Tournament games. 

JaColby Pemberton also had a productive tourney, scoring in double figures in both games. The senior averaged 12.5 points and 7.5 rebounds.

The Bulldogs enter the NIT winners of 13 of their last 16 games. Ole Miss got hot late in the season as well, winning seven of the last nine regular season games, as the Rebels were one of the first four teams out of the NCAA Tournament. 

After beating South Carolina in the second round of the SEC Tournament, Ole Miss fell 76-73 to LSU in the quarterfinals.  

“They are an extraordinary rebounding team,” Konkol said. “We do have the knowledge of having seen coach Kermit Davis for a number of years when he was at Middle Tennessee.  He still mixes up his defenses, running some of the similar things. They just missed the NCAA Tournament as an at-large team. This is a great opportunity for us to play postseason basketball on this level at this stage against a very good team.”

The contest is bound to be a defensive battle. LA Tech is allowing just 64.6 points per game, stopping 10 opponents from reaching 60 points. Ole Miss is allowing teams to average just 63.4 points per game and on 12 occasions this season, held their opponent to under 60.

The key player for the Rebels is first-team All-SEC guard Devontae Shuler, who averages 15.3 points and 3.3 assists per game. 

Tonight’s game will be the 12th meeting between LA Tech and Ole Miss. The Rebels lead the series 8-3, winning five straight.  The last meeting came in 2015 in Oxford, Mississippi. 

Photo by DARRELL JAMES 

 

 

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By T. Scott Boatright

A pair of Lincoln Parish college football players upped their antes this week as Louisiana Tech defensive lineman Milton Williams and Grambling State offensive lineman David Moore showcased their abilities to NFL scouts during Pro Days held at their respective universities.

Both players showed they are worthy of making an impact in the trenches for NFL teams during their 2021 rookie seasons.

Three weeks ago during an earlier Pro Day workout at the training facility Exos in Frisco, Texas, 75 miles northwest of his hometown of Crowley, Texas, the 6-3, 284-pound Williams turned in near record performances for potential NFL defensive tackles in both the three-cone drill and short shuttle.

He bettered his performances in both of those drills in front of more than 55 scouts representing all 23 NFL teams at Tech’s Pro Day on Thursday at Joe Aillet Stadium, running a 6.87 in the three-cone and 4.25 in the 20-yard shuttle. During his Exos Pro Day, Williams ran a 7.04 in the three cone and 4.34 in the 20-yard shuttle. 

“Those two numbers really show off the quickness that I have,” Williams said. “There were some doubts that I can’t bend. I don’t know where that came from, but they’re not going to say it anymore.”

“I knew that I was going to be the fastest defensive tackle in this draft class, no question about it. No defensive tackle anywhere was going to run faster than me. I broke the record three weeks ago and I broke it again today. That’s how confident I am in my work ethic and I put that on display today.”

Williams’ goal on the bench press was 35 reps, but he ended up one shy of that mark with 34.

“I reached a couple of my goals,” Williams said. “I didn’t get the bench – I really wanted that one bad. I fell one rep short. But overall, I think I surprised myself a little bit out there, so it was a pretty good day.”

Williams showed solid quickness and leg strength for a big man to close out his Pro Day, running a 4.61 40-yard dash while turning in a 38.5-inch vertical jump and a 10-foot-1 broad jump.

Before Tech’s Pro Day, many analysts had Williams pegged as a third-round draft choice at best but after Thursday’s performance, some NFL Draft gurus felt that Williams had increased his value and moved into a second-round selection range.

Williams said he’s had multiple contacts with every NFL team over the last few weeks with the Dallas Cowboys showing strong interest with multiple scouts on hand Thursday while the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings are also said to be looking hard at Williams. Defensive line coaches from the Cowboys, Pittsburgh Steelers, Philadelphia Eagles, and Cincinnati Bengals took turns putting Williams through drills on Thursday. 

“Since third grade I’ve been following the NFL for a long time and this has always been my dream to even be on this level,” Williams said. “Talking to these teams gets me excited for what’s to come and I’m just glad I finally made it to this stage.”

Following his breakout week at the Reese’s Senior Bowl, Grambling offensive lineman David Moore immediately began working for his Pro Day, aiming to shed about 15 pounds and enhance his draft status.

He nearly reached that goal, dropping 14 pounds, down to 336, and turned in some top quality marks during GSU’s Pro Day held Wednesday night at Eddie G. Robinson Stadium.

Moore’s 40-yard dash time was a fleet 5.14, and he had 31 reps of the benchpress. His three-cone drill time was 8.01 and he had a shuttle time of 4.87. Moore recorded a 27.5 vertical leap and a broad jump of 8-9.

His other measurements: height of 6-1 and a half, arm length of 34 1/8 inches, an 81 5/8 inch wingspan, and a 9 1/8-inch hand size.

Milton Williams photos by T. SCOTT BOATRIGHT/David Moore photo courtesy of GSUTigers.com

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Choudrant Elementary students were in for some shenanigans across their campus on St. Patrick’s Day – March 17!

It appears possible leprechauns were to blame for numerous incidents involving Principal Charles Hogan’s office and other events around the school.

Students set traps to catch the intruders but were unfortunately unsuccessful.

Submitted photos

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Signs in the Walmart parking lot offer the following instructions, “Reserved parking for parents of sick children courtesy of Wal-Mart pharmacy, please limit time to 15 min.” The parking spaces are prime spaces in the front of Walmart, very close to the front doors. The signs are very clear.

I have noticed that people park in these parking places freely. I know they are not pharmacy customers because I have stalked them in the store. They went in and bought a basket full of stuff. It took most of them longer than 15 mins to shop. If Walmart can call it a “min” so can I. These parking place interlopers never go near the pharmacy. I can’t offer information about the health of their children, because I rarely see children leaving the vehicles. I guess they left the sick kids at home.

Here is the strain on this week’s chain.

Last week I was going to Walmart to get doggy treats. The dogs eat better than I do, and a weekly treat trip is the highlight of my shopping week. In front of me in traffic was a nice person in a Jeep Grand Cherokee, license plate number, well I can’t tell you that! She pulled into the sick children’s parking place and jumped out of her vehicle.

To say she parked her Jeep Grand Cherokee in the parking place would be stretching it. She abandoned her vehicle to go into the store. She was about three feet into the parking space and the rest of the vehicle was sticking out into the flow of traffic. I am sensitive to vehicles sticking out because I no longer drive with the acumen of a thirty-year-old.

I did spy her in the store, and she was not going to the pharmacy. Who would have guessed that?

If you are going to use the special parking place, please pull all the way in. Go ahead, overcome the guilt and pull that Jeep Grand Cherokee all the way to the post holding the reserved parking space sign. That way you will not block traffic trying to negotiate the Walmart parking lot. When you are trying to be respectable while sinning, it gums up the whole works. 

How about this, if you are going to sin, sin boldly. Go ahead and throw your whole being into the sin. Don’t hold back. Don’t try to be respectable when you are sinning. Get down and dirty. Quit making excuses for your sin, just be who you are. Be seen in your sin. Quit trying to hide what you are doing. Let the world know you are sinning. Pull that vehicle all the way in the parking place even though you have no business parking there. It is ok. Go ahead and park in the clergy spaces at the Hospital even though you are not. Heck, park in the doctors’ spaces. You are a sinner; quit acting like you are not. Give up justifying your bad behavior; go ahead admit you are a sinner. You are a dirty-rotten-hoping-not-even-God-will-see-your-sin sinner. There is no way to escape His notice.

Welcome to the sinner’s club. Now that you have admitted it, we can work on it together.

There will be a meeting of sinners at Trinity United Methodist Church on Sunday morning. We admit it! I am the chief sinner in charge. 

We are calling on Jesus to save us!

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By T. Scott Boatright

The Ruston Board of Aldermen at next month’s meeting will decide on a request from Faith Christian Church to change the designation of property at 104 West Woodhaven Rd. from low density residential to central parkway.

Ruston’s Planning and Zoning Commission on Monday endorsed the church’s request and approved an application to rezone the property on a unanimous vote. Commissioner Otha Anders was absent from the meeting.

Faith Christian Church pastor Stan Pody said the designation change would make it easier for the church to handle the approval process from planned expansion of the church.

The P&Z Commission’s recommendation will be on the May agenda for Ruston’s Board of Aldermen because redesignation would potentially change the city’s comprehensive master plan use map.

Faith Christian Church, which is located at 2909 North Trenton St., purchased the adjacent West Woodhaven Road property including a house that sits on it as part of its planned expansion.

Pody said the church would like to enlarge its current building but that doing so will not involve the West Woodhaven Road property.

Concerned people residing near the church who spoke during Monday’s meeting said they had no problem with the church but had questions about the type of addition the church is planning.

Audubon Drive resident Allen Tuten said there have been unsightly storage buildings and such behind the church and that neighbors of the church had previously been told that the current metal building would be covered with brick or veneer but that hadn’t happened.

Pody said the church inherited that building when it bought the Trenton Street property and that he did not know if a previous agreement by the former owners regarding a brick veneer.

While no expansion plans have yet been submitted to the city, Zoning Administrator John Hayes said that the city code provides some control over the type of materials used for new construction.

Michelle McGehee, who lives near the church, said her concern was about the sound level coming from the church’s praise-style of worship.

Pody responded by saying part of the proposed new expansion would include adding foam and sound insulation to the building, which should dampen the sound.

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By T. Scott Boatright

Willie Derrick Jackson, 55, remains in the Lincoln Parish Detention Center Thursday night facing charges of second-degree murder.

According to Jackson’s arrest affidavit, Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a call in the 400 block of Heard Road around 8:30 p.m. Monday in reference to a shooting.

Deputies reported that Jackson was the caller and said that he had shot a person inside his home.

Inside the home LPSO deputies found James Lamont Belton deceased on a couch.

Following an investigation Jackson was arrested shortly after 2 a.m. Tuesday and charged with second-degree murder.

Jackson’s arrest affidavit said that Jackson told deputies he and Melton were “hanging out drinking” and that Melton became angry and frustrated. Deputies said Jackson couldn’t elaborate as to why that happened.

Deputies reported that Jackson said he then became concerned over Melton’s actions and retrieved a handgun from his bedroom, tucking it in his waistband before returning to the living room.

Jackson then told investigators Melton continued acting agitated, so Jackson asked him to leave. Jackson told the deputies that Melton then lunged at him and Jackson pulled the gun from his waistband and it fell to the floor. Jackson said that as he picked up his gun, Melton again lunged at him.

In response Jackson said he then shot Melton, who fell to the couch before getting back up. Jackson told deputies he then shot Melton again.

According to Jackson’s arrest affidavit, Jackson believed Melton might have been armed with a knife Jackson had seen earlier in the day, but no knife or other weapon was found by deputies at the scene.

Deputies also said that Jackson could not fully explain why he felt in fear of his life enough to justify the shooting.

Jackson remained in the Lincoln Parish Detention Center on Thursday night with a $200,000 bond.

Willie Derrick Jackson photo courtesy of Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office

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