At about 10 p.m. Thursday evening, a Ruston police officer was informed by a motorist that a man was running into traffic swinging his hands at vehicles at the intersection of Louisiana Highway 33 and the South Service Road.
When the officer responded to the scene he found Justin Hebert, 41, of Crowley, walking on the La. 33 overpass at I-20. Hebert appeared to do a push up in the roadway before continuing to walk. As the officer approached, Hebert squatted down in front of traffic attempting to exit from Interstate 20 and began aggressively gesturing toward his groin.
Hebert was taken into custody and booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center for simple obstruction of a highway. He was also issued a citation for simple possession of marijuana.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
I am not a very crafty person – nor have I ever really wanted to be. I don’t have the visual eye for it, for one thing, and I don’t ever think that my craft, whatever it is, is as pretty as one I could buy at the store. But something about fall brings out a little crafty creativity in my spirit, as well as nostalgia.
My mom and I used to bring out a spicy fall fragrance to the house by putting cloves in oranges. Sometimes we’d fill up the whole orange with cloves, but often we would just make various designs on our oranges. It was a peaceful, relaxing time filled with the aroma of fresh oranges meeting with the spice of the cloves. The girls and I do this now most falls, and they love it as much as I did as a kid. They spell out their names, make heart and circle designs, and – what’s fun to watch – is when they decide to change up the design and pull out the cloves to make new ones.
This fall, too, we started doing Movie Theme Mondays. Mondays are the worst, as Garfield always knew, so I thought we needed some happiness on our Mondays. So each Monday this fall we’ve had a surprise movie with a corresponding dinner. Sometimes it’s on target, other times it’s a miss, but it’s always fun. Some of the movies we’ve watched have included Beauty and the Beast with beef bourguignon (the kids were not impressed and, Frozen with Swedish meatballs and chocolate (of course), and I’m looking forward to introducing them to Star Wars and drinking blue milk.
Another fun fall craft is making birdseed ornaments. They’re a bit labor intensive (spoken from a non-crafty person, please remember), but the girls love hanging them in trees and watching them little by little disappear. We’ve made the traditional birdseed ornaments with birdseed, flour, gelatin, and corn syrup, but we’ve also put peanut butter on pine cones and added bird seed to that as well.
Lastly, one of our traditions are thankful leaves. I cut out copies of leave prints (the easy, rounded leaves that are easy to cut, of course). The point of this is for each member of the family to say something they’re thankful for every day in November. If we do the leaves, we tape them to the kitchen window each day. It’s always fun to see what the kids – and the adults! — in our family say. Our kids each year will first mention they’re thankful for each other and then often for their teachers, but when they have to come up with new ideas is when things get interesting. Sometimes it’s as simple as being thankful for having their favorite meal at dinner, but often it’s for something beautiful they noticed in the world and were thankful for.
So yes – definitely not crafty – but very happy about the little fall traditions we’ve started.
The Louisiana Tech women’s basketball team wrapped up their first week of official practice this Friday for the 2022-23 season.
The Lady Techsters return 10 letter-winners from last season’s West Division Championship team.
Senior guard Keiunna Walker is back for her final season, coming off a milestone all-Conference 2021-22 campaign. The Lonoke, Ark. native was named First-Team All-Conference USA and to the Conference USA All-Tournament team while breaking career marks of 1,000 points, 100 steals, 100 assists, 100 charges taken, and 100 games played.
Walker became the 43rd member of the Lady Techster 1,000-point club and finished her season at No. 27 on the all-time scoring list with 1,403 points. She averaged 18.9 ppg and was one of the most successful players in the country at getting to the free-throw line last season, ranked No. 1 in C-USA and top-five nationally in free-throw attempts and makes.
Anna Larr Roberson also returns to lead the frontcourt after being named to the Conference USA All-Tournament team last season and picked up Second-Team conference honors. Roberson averaged 15.1 ppg and 8.5 rpg and registered nine double-doubles last season.
The Walker and Roberson duo also put on one of the best shows in the country last season during a double-overtime 90-80 win over Rice inside the TAC. Walker registered just the fourth triple-double in program history with 27 points, 15 rebounds, and ten assists, while Roberson recorded the fifth-highest single-game scoring effort with 44 points on 20-28 shooting. The teammates were the first in the history of women’s basketball, at any level, to record a 25-point, 15-rebound, 10-assist triple-double while scoring 40 or more points in the same game. Roberson’s 20 made field goals tied a program record.
Juniors Salma Bates and Lotte Sant also return with sophomores Robyn Lee, Silvia Nativi, Amaya Brannon, Kate Thompson, Mackenzie Wurm, and Autumn Smith.
Salma “Buzzer Beater” Bates hit five shots at the buzzer last season, including a game-winner over Boise State at the Rocky Mountain Hoops Classic. After two seasons at Tulane, Bates handled the point guard duties in her first season with the Techsters. Bates started all 33 games averaging 7.9 points, and led the team with 101 assists.
Sant, entering her fourth season in Ruston by way of Amsterdam, brings a wealth of experience to the Tech backcourt ranking No. 2 on the team in games played with 87. The 6-1 guard registered a season-high 12 points hitting four three-pointers against UAB.
Brannon became just the 13th true freshman to start in a season-opener for the Techsters since 2000-01. The Plano, Texas native appeared in all 33 games last season, starting 21, and was named Conference USA Freshman of the Week after her first two career starts, and finished the season averaging 7.0 ppg and 4.4 rebounds while shooting .450 percent from the field and .385 percent from three.
Nativi started 23 games while appearing in all 33 contests during the 2021-22 season, registering 69 assists and 40 steals. She recorded five steals twice and registered a season-high 11 rebounds and seven assists in Conference USA play.
Lee proved vital down for the Techstsers bringing a nose for instant offense and big shots, including hitting the game-winner at Old Dominion last season, which helped propel the Techsters to the No. 2 overall seed in the C-USA tournament. The Moss Point, Miss. guard averaged 8.0 points on .430 shooting and appeared in all 33 games while making ten starts.
Thompson, a transfer from Wisconsin, started 13 games during her first season in Ruston and provided depth to the Techsters’ frontcourt. Thompson registered season-highs of 14 points and eight rebounds against McNeese State and shot .437 percent from the floor and .848 from the free-throw line.
Wurm and Smith made 13 and 15 appearances, respectively. Wurm, the Allen, Texas forward, was named the Conference USA Freshman of the Week after a 12-point, 12-rebound double-double against LSU-A. Smith, the Martin High School product out of Arlington, Texas, was used primarily as a defensive specialist during her freshman campaign registering eight steals in her first nine games.
LA Tech adds two power five transfers in guard Gabbie Green and forward Aaliyah Morgan. Green came to Ruston from Pittsburgh last season but missed the year due to injury. Green was named an NJCAA First-Team All-American after leading South Plains to a national No. 1 ranking before playing two seasons at Pitt, where she started 47 of 48 games and broke the junior season record for three-pointers made. Morgan, out of Tyler Legacy High School, transferred from TCU last spring after redshirting her freshman year for the Horned Frogs.
Tech added three incoming freshmen signees last February in guards Jaiden Thomas and Anja Bukvic and forward Ayen Angoi.
Thomas, a Conway, Ark. native, averaged 20 points, eight rebounds, four assists, and three steals over her four-year career for Conway High School. She garnered several awards and honors, including All-State, and was a McDonald’s All-American Game Nominee.
Bukvic comes to Ruston from Belgrade, Serbia, and most recently represented her home country at the 2022 Euro U20 Championships in Sopron, Hungary. Serbia reached the quarterfinals of the tournament after Bukvic clinched a double-overtime win with 12 points and six assists. Bukvic spent two years starting on the top two teams, Partizan and Art Basket, in Serbia’s highest-rated league. She also helped her Partizan U16 team to a Serbian League gold medal in 2017-18.
Angoi is a TAPPS 6A Texas state champion out of Bishop Lynch High School in Dallas, Texas. She averaged 10 points and 7.3 rebounds her senior season while picking up All-District, All-Region, and All-State honors.
A man was arrested by Grambling State University police Thursday after receiving a report of a fight at campus dormitory.
Officers responded to Holland Hall just after midnight Thursday where a victim stated he was attacked by several students, causing him bruises to the head and neck. The suspects could not be located at the time.
An investigator was assigned to the case and was able to identify Roberto Amaya, 19, as a party to the altercation. Amaya was questioned at the GSU Police Department and allegedly admitted participating in the fight that inflicted injuries on the victim.
Amaya was arrested for simple battery and booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center. Bail was set at $1,500.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Each Monday and Friday, the Lincoln Parish Journal will post a list of non-for-profit upcoming events happening in the parish. If you would like to add your event to this list or advertise your for-profit events, please email us at lpjnewsla@gmail.com.
Monday, Oct. 3 11:30 a.m.: Lunch on Us (Presbyterian Church, 212 North Bonner Street., Ruston) — free sack lunches while supplies last each week 5:30 p.m.: Ruston city council meeting 6:30 p.m.: GSU volleyball v. TSU (Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center)
Tuesday, Oct. 4 2 p.m.: Ribbon cutting for Ivy and Stone (2000 N. Trenton St.) 6 p.m.: Lincoln Parish school board meeting
Wednesday, Oct. 5 7-8 a.m.: Veterans Coffee Club (PJ’s Coffee) 11:30 a.m.: Lunch on Us (Presbyterian Church, 212 North Bonner Street., Ruston) — free sack lunches while supplies last each week
Thursday, October 6 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.: DART radiothon (Super 1 Foods; Q94.1 FM) 6 p.m.: Grambling city council meeting 7 p.m.: Cedar Creek v. River Oaks 7 p.m.: La Tech soccer v. UTSA
Friday, Oct. 7 Fall break for Lincoln Parish School begins; no school today 7 p.m.: Loyal Blue Weekend (Railroad Park)
Saturday, Oct. 8 8:30-11:30 a.m.: Hazardous Waste Material Collection and Recycling (2609 Farmerville St.) 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Farmers Market 6 p.m.: La Tech football v. UTEP
LA Tech student-athletes had a busy weekend as soccer, volleyball, tennis and golf were all in action.
Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications
It was a busy weekend of athletics as volleyball, tennis, golf and soccer were all in action. See below for a brief capsule and a link to full recaps of each.
Lady Techster Volleyball
After a loss Friday night against UTEP, the Louisiana Tech volleyball team bounced back and defeated UTSA 3-0 (36-34, 28-26, 25-18) on Sunday at the Convocation Center in San Antonio.
Louisiana Tech women’s soccer picked up their fifth point in the Conference USA standings with a 1-1 draw against FIU Sunday afternoon at The Mack in Ruston.
Thomas Henson carded a team-best 70 as the Louisiana Tech golf team finished with a round one total of 295 (+7) on Sunday at the Trinity Forest Golf Club.
To read full coverage of Sunday’s round, click HERE
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Lady Techster Tennis
The Louisiana Tech Tennis team continued its hot start to the fall season, winning six singles flights at the UCA Fall Invitational against regional opponents this weekend at the Conway Tennis Center.
Linda Collins October 9, 1948 – September 30, 2022 Visitation: Monday, October 3, 2022, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM, Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home Funeral Service: Monday, October 3, 2022, 2:00 PM, Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home Cemetery Committal: Monday, October 3, 2022, Simsboro City Cemetery, Roberson Road, Simsboro
Ricky Reeveas August 31, 1966 – September 29, 2022 Visitation: Monday, October 3, 2022, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM, Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home Funeral Service: Tuesday, October 4, 2022, 10:00 AM, Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home Cemetery Committal: Tuesday, October 4, 2022, Mineral Springs Cemetery, Highway 822, Dubach
Tramon Williams came to Tech as a walk-on but will be inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame Oct. 7.
This is the fifth and final feature on this year’s LA Tech Athletic Hall of Fame class.
By Amber Barker
Tramon Williams is no stranger to hard work.
As a freshman in high school, he started working in the south Louisiana cane fields as a laborer for his uncle, doing everything from washing tractors, to helping weld and cut grass and whatever else was needed. And he did it every summer until the trajectory of his life and football career changed. But the path for the Super Bowl Champion cornerback was anything but a straight line.
“I knew I had a lot of ability but why wasn’t I getting recruited? I knew I was willing to prove my ability was better than anyone I went up against. It was a little bit of all of that on my shoulders,” he said, as he recalled questioning the lack of interest from college football programs.
Then he and his best friend decided to go to Louisiana Tech to get their engineering degrees.
“I didn’t know if I would play football or not, but I knew when I had to hit the real world, I would have to have a backup plan,” said Williams. That backup plan included switching his major to computer information systems, as well as making a name for himself on both the college and NFL levels and now will entail him being inducted into the Louisiana Tech Athletics Hall of Fame on Oct. 7.
“My initial reaction was mixed feelings because I never really set out to do this. I was just a kid from a small town, who grew up working hard, playing football, and working jobs,” he said. “I grew up playing football starting at age 5. It was a lifelong journey, that I didn’t know at the time it would turn out to be that.”
Williams’ status from student to student-athlete changed when he decided to tryout for the Bulldog football team. Not knowing how the process went kept him from pursuing the goal at the start of his freshman year, but after exploring the process more, including getting in touch with his high school guidance counselor and registering with the NCAA Clearinghouse, he took the chance.
“I decided to walk on spring of freshman year going into sophomore year. I had to talk to the coaches, and they told me to walk on,” he remembered. After talking to the coaches, as well as some of the current football athletes to get a feel for the team environment, he went out for spring football.
“I played offense and defense in high school, so I had to choose which one. They were stacked at the receiver position, so I decided on the defensive side of the ball – corner. Initially I was third or fourth string right away, and I had an opportunity to make an impact with any type of ability. I had a really good spring camp with the team, and the coaches invited me back for training camp the next year.”
So, he returned home for the summer and worked. This time putting in 10-hour days for a contractor company before training for football.
“When I got home from that job, I didn’t have a place to work out – I had to find my own path. I would go in the street and just run,” he recalled.
“I would imagine myself running 110s, I don’t know how far it actually was; I would run 10 or 12 110s and do some DB drills in my yard; wasn’t lifting weights or anything – I didn’t have those resources. I wanted to make sure I was in shape more than anything.”
He trained like this every day until camp started that August.
During his first year of playing for the Bulldogs, Williams rarely saw action, as he was “just getting my feet wet and up to the speed of the game.” The second year, however, he recalled being given more opportunities.
“My sophomore year I played well, and the coaches started to trust me. Every time I went on the field, I would always make a play – knocking the ball out, causing an interception – every time I got on the field, I made something happen,” he recalled. “My teammates would always give me compliments – that started feeding my confidence. But I still had guys in front of me who had paid their dues, they were good players, and I had to wait my turn and eventually it would happen.”
At the end of his second playing season, it did happen. Williams’ efforts were rewarded in the form of an athletic scholarship.
“I got a chance to call my parents to tell them we don’t have to keep paying for school. I [went] from just a walk on in most people’s eyes – they might not take me seriously – to now I’m a scholarship athlete,” he reminisced.
The trust from his coaching staff and teammates, as well as the support of one special young lady, gave him the confidence to continue to follow his dreams. He met Shan Moore-Williams, a standout Lady Techster basketball player, during his sophomore season, and notes her encouragement helped push him in a positive direction.
“My life that I’m living is really circulated around going to Tech; it’s a special place to me – I met my wife there; when I was going through the process of walking on, she was there from the start. She was a big-time recruit, and I was a scrub at the time,” he said with a laugh. “But the support was there; she was special to me at that point in time and made my focus on football that much easier.”
Williams went on to earn first team all-Western Athletic Conference honors while leading the team in interceptions in each of his final two years in Ruston. After his collegiate career, he spent 15 years in the NFL, recording 34 career interceptions, before retiring in 2021 as a Super Bowl champion for the Green Bay Packers.
“I feel like God set me on a path and gave me a journey unique to me. I’ve changed lives, and my life was also changed,” he said. “Me going into the Hall of Fame means I did what I was supposed to do with the craft I was given. I feel I was on the right path, and the induction says I made the right decision.”
The induction ceremony will take place Friday, Oct. 7 on Karl Malone Court at the Thomas Assembly Center. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. with the reception starting at 6 p.m. and the ceremony beginning at 7 p.m.
Tickets are still available. Ticket prices are $50 for one ticket or $400 for a table of eight. Any interested can click HERE.
Archbishop Rummel (4-1) lost to Scotlandville, 35-34
John Curtis (4-1) beat Holy Cross, 32-21
Others receiving votes: St. Augustine (4-1) beat Jesuit, 37-21; Captain Shreve (3-2) lost to Parkway, 25-13; Parkway (5-0) beat Captain Shreve, 25-13; West Monroe (3-1) did not play; Southside (4-1) beat Barbe, 30-7; Carencro (4-1) beat New Iberia, 51-34.
Class 4A
Westgate (5-0) beat Magnolia School of Excellence, 77-0
Others receiving votes: Sterlington (2-3) beat Richwood, 36-20; John F. Kennedy (4-1) beat Live Oak, 37-27; Parkview Baptist (4-1) beat Glen Oaks, 49-7; Bogalusa (4-1) beat Chalmette, 52-36; Carroll (4-0) beat Bastrop, 62-0; St. Martinville (1-4) lost to Lafayette, 44-41; Westlake (3-2) lost to Lake Charles Prep, 44-0.
Class 2A
Many (4-0) did not play
Newman (4-1) beat Pearl River, 52-22
Oak Grove (3-2) lost to Mangham, 50-21
Notre Dame (3-2) lost to Cecilia, 25-24
St. Charles Catholic (3-2) beat Vandebilt Catholic, 35-7
North Caddo (4-1) beat West Ouachita, 28-27
Dunham (4-1) beat Southern Lab, 28-14
Calvary Baptist (3-2) beat Mansfield, 52-6
Mangham (4-1) beat Oak Grove, 50-21
Avoyelles (3-2) lost to Lafayette Christian, 49-28
Others receiving votes: Episcopal-BR (5-0) beat Ascension Catholic, 33-28; Rosepine (4-1) beat DeQuincy, 54-10; Grand Lake (5-0) beat East Beauregard, 58-30; Welsh (4-0) beat Loreauville, 20-16; General Trass (3-2) beat Rayville, 42-24.
Class 1A
Ouachita Christian (4-1) lost to Ouachita Parish, 48-28
GSU, minus the G on their helmets following Hue Jackson’s decision earlier in the week to remove it until the Tigers earned it back, fell 34-14 to Prairie View A&M Saturday.
By T. Scott Boatright
After two straight games of second-half struggles, Grambling State finally put together a strong final 30 minutes during Saturday’s State Fair Classic against Prairie View A&M at the Cotton Bowl.
This time it was first-half woes that cost the Tigers.
Prairie View roared out to a big first-half lead that fueled a 34-14 win over Grambling before a crowd of 53,971.
The Panthers used a methodical offensive attack, taking a 7-0 lead at the 4:31 mark of the opening stanza and building a 27-0 advantage by halftime.
After forcing a Grambling punt, Prairie View marched 80 yards on 16 plays with running back Ja’den Stewart scoring on a 2-yard run that put the Panthers on top 7-0.
The Panthers continued lighting up the scoreboard in the second quarter, with field goals of 26 and 37 yards by Luis Reyes and a 35-yard scoring scamper stretching Prairie View’s lead to 20-0 with 1:45 remaining in the first half.
But Prairie View wasn’t done, as linebacker Xavier Watson snatched up a ball he had stripped from a ball carrier and raced 40 yards untouched to paydirt to put Prairie View on up 27-0 at intermission.
Grambling didn’t score until the 4:42 mark of the second quarter when Julian Calvez, who had come in to replace starting quarterback Quaterius Hawkins, scored on a five-yard run.
Calvez was back at it on Grambling’s next possession, which started at the Prairie View 30-yard line thanks to a fumble recovery.
Seven plays later Noah Bean, who led GSU with four catches for 33 yards, hauled in a five-yard scoring reception with 1:22 left in the third quarter to cut Prairie View’s lead to 27-14.
Prairie View’s last score came when a punt hit a Grambling State defender and was recovered in the end zone for a touchdown.
Grambling drove to the Prairie View 20 before turning the ball over on downs with 4:25 remaining, and the Panthers’ offense chewed up the rest of the clock to seal the win.
Hawkins hit on five-of-nine passes for 39 yards while Calvez connected on five-of-13 attempts for 82 yards with one touchdown and one interception.
Floyd Chalk led Grambling’s run game with 47 yards on four carries while Chance Williams added 36 yards on nine rushes.
Lewis Matthews, who ranks second nationally in solo tackles, topped the Tigers, racking up 17 total takedowns, including three solo stops, while Joshua Reed added 10 tackles (five solos).
GSU (1-4 overall, 0-1 Southwestern Athletic Conference) returns to SWAC action next weekend as the Tigers play at Alabama A&M (1-4, 1-1 SWAC).
Louisiana Tech soccer continues a three-game home Conference USA home stand as the Techsters welcome FIU Sunday, Oct. 2 at 1 p.m. to Robert Mack Caruthers Field.
MATCH INFORMATION Date/Time: Sunday, Oct. 2 | 1 p.m. | Tickets Location: Robert Mack Caruthers Field (Ruston, La.) Live Stats: LATechSports.com/Stats Live Stream: CUSATV Series: LA Tech leads 4-2-1 | 2-1-0 in Ruston Promotions: Youth Game/Book Drive
ABOUT LA TECH (3-7-2, 1-2-1 C-USA) Louisiana Tech sits at four points in the C-USA standings through four matches after dropping their last two at Charlotte (0-2) and at home against Rice (1-4). Tech started conference play with a win at home over WKU (1-0) and a draw at UTEP (2-2).
LA Tech currently sits t-6th place in the C-USA standings with FAU, just two points out of the top four. Tech’s next two home matchups with FIU and UTEP, who sit 8th and 10th respectively in the standings, will prove to have big implications on the final eight that make the conference tournament in Charlotte.
The Techsters are 3-2-1 at The Mack this season, and 2-3-1 in C-USA play in the facility’s second season. Tech will be looking for their 50th overall win at home since 2014.
ABOUT FIU (2-5-2, 0-2-2 C-USA) Florida International comes to Ruston with a 1-3-1 mark on the road this season. They earned a 1-1 draw with UTSA at home in their last contest after falling to the current league leaders UAB (0-1) and Rice (0-3).
THE SERIES LA Tech and FIU will meet for the eighth time on the pitch this Sunday, with Tech leading the all-time series 4-2-1. The Techsters also hold an advantage in games played in Ruston, 2-1-0.
Last season, Tech finished the 2021 campaign with a 4-0 shutout over the Panthers in Miami. FIU’s last trip to Ruston took place in 2019, with LA Tech taking the match 3-1.
FIU started the series 2-0 with wins in 2013 and 2015, but Tech has won four of the last five, including a 2-2 double-overtime draw in 2018.
Tech leads the all-time goals scored count 15-8 and has posted three shutouts in the series. The Panthers have blanked the Techsters once. Both teams have scored at least one goal in a match only three times.
TICKETS Single-game tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for youth (ages 4-17). All tickets are general admission in the new facility with stands comprised of bleacher-style seating with backs.
Tickets can be purchased now at LATechSports.com/tickets or by calling the LA Tech Ticket Office at (318) 257-3631. Single-game tickets can also be purchased on a walk-up basis with gates opening one hour before the matches.
PROMOTIONS Youth Game – All youth soccer players ages 4-17 will receive free admission to the game if they wear their team’s jersey. Each youth team can have two coaches enter with free admission as well. Youth players will be able to walk out with the teams and officials before the game for the National Anthem. At the end of the game, those in attendance will hear a quick word from head coach Steve Voltz.
Book Drive Game – Attendees are encouraged to bring new books to donate to the collection bins at the entrances to the game. These books will be donated to local elementary schools and youth centers in the area by the players and staff personally. All books should be new and at no higher than a 12-year-old reading level.
STADIUM POLICIES/PARKING Clear bags are required at all Louisiana Tech athletic events. Fans must sit in the stands and cannot be on the field, on the grass hill, or the sidewalks.
Parking is free and available alongside Stadium Blvd. as well as west of Dr. Billy Bundrick Field. To access the field, fans will enter the main entrance of the Soccer/Softball complexes and go up the steps on the southwest corner of Robert Mack Caruthers Field. An elevator is available for ADA fans or those who do not believe they can get up the stairs. Fans are encouraged to read the Gameday A-Z Guide and review the Clear Bag Policy for any questions regarding the gameday experience.
Senior receiver Aaron Jackson made sure his 2022 return to Ruston counted Friday night against his old team, the Neville Tigers.
Bringing in three touchdown receptions with 126 yards, Jackson pulled in some awesome grabs to propel the Bearcats to a 27-21 win, while the defense fended off a fierce Tiger comeback in the fourth quarter.
“I’m so proud for him,” Ruston head coach Jerrod Baugh said. “We always knew he was a good receiver, and we missed him last season when he was gone. Obviously, he makes a good impact for our football team. Neville’s a good football team, and they stacked defenders and left Aaron on one-on-one. We knew he could get those most of the time, so it was good.”
Ruston improved to 4-1 on the season and has won four straight games against stiff competition. Friday’s game against Neville wrapped up non-district play for the Bearcats.
Jackson put the Bearcats up with his third touchdown reception of the game with 5:59 left to go to give Ruston its largest lead up to that point at 27-14. Neville would score one last touchdown in the fourth quarter, but it would not prove enough as Ruston held on.
With 3:54 left in the third quarter, Jackson hauled in a 72-yard touchdown reception to give Ruston a 21-14 lead.
Neville struck first with a 30 yard touchdown run by Jaylon Nichols on a 4th and 1 with 5:53 left in the first quarter.
Ruston responded after a blocked field goal attempt by Neville on a 12-play, 93-yard drive that was set up in part by a 46-yard reception by senior fullback Lajaveon Ellis on a catch out of the flats. Senior Dyson Fields capped off the drive with a one-yard rush for the touchdown at the 8:11 mark in the first half.
“Our special teams have done an amazing job all season making plays like that to give us a little momentum,” Baugh said. “Last week, it was onside kicks; this week a blocked field goal.”
The Bearcats capitalized on an opportunity late in the first with a perfect touchdown throw to senior receiver Aaron Jackson with 43 seconds left to take the lead 14-7. It was the first lead of the night for Ruston and they took it into the halftime locker room.
Neville answered on its first drive of the third quarter with a six yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Jaden Gibson to tie the game 14-14.
Osborn threw 190 yards on 9 of 18 passing with three touchdowns, all to Jackson. Fields finished with 92 yards and one touchdown before going out in the fourth quarter on a hard hit to his knee.
“Jaden did a great job throwing the ball tonight,” Baugh said. “I feel like our kids can do that, whatever is needed on offense. Last week, it was lining up and running the ball. This week, we had to make some throws. I feel comfortable doing whatever it is we need to do.”
Ruston will kickoff District 2-5A play on the road Friday, Oct. 7, against Alexandria Senior High on the road. The game will be broadcast live on Z107.5 FM and on BearcatNationNetwork.com. The Jerrod Baugh show will start at 6:30 p.m.
Gray Worthey scored on a 40-yard run during the second quarter of the Cougars homecoming win. (photo by Tim Smith)
by Malcolm Butler
Cedar Creek scored early and often in a 56-0 win over Tensas capping a week of Homecoming activities as the Cougars won for the third time in as many weeks.
Head coach Matt Middleton and Co. (3-2) scored all 56 points in the first two quarters as the final three quarters saw a running clock after the Cougars grabbed a 42-point lead in the first minute of the second quarter (LHSAA rule stipulates a running clock as soon as a team takes a 42-point lead).
“I am excited,” said Middleton. “It’s a win. I am happy for the kids. Everybody got a chance to play. I want them all to be safe tomorrow night (during homecoming dance festivities) and get back to work on Sunday.”
Caden Middleton found Lawson Lillo for a 13-yard TD pass with 8:29 to play in the opening quarter, capping a 4-play, 52-yard drive. Lane Thomas highlighted the drive with a 35-yard run on the first offensive play of the Cougars night — the only rushing attempt of the night by the Cougars leading rusher.
Middleton completed 9-of-11 passes for 140 yards and three scores on the night.
Following a fumble by Tensas, the Cougars took just two plays to cover 19 yards as Austin Webb scored on a two-yard dive with 7:51 to play in the quarter. Webb rushed for 39 yards on five carries.
Davis Long hit the second of his eight extra points on the night as the lead increased to 14-0.
Lillo struck again less than a minute later, this time on the defensive side, stepping in front of a pass and returning it 30 yards for another Creek score and a 21-0 advantage.
The offensive onslaught continued late in the first quarter. This time Ladd Thompson took a shovel pass from Caden Middleton and raced 22-yards for a score and a 28-0 advantage.
Following a Jed Stephens interception on Tensas’ next offensive possession, the Cougars marched 60 yards on three plays, highlighted by a 50-yard shovel pass to Connor Norris down to the opponents 10-yard line. Norris scored on the next play but a holding penalty on the Cougars negated the TD. However, Webb scored two plays later on a 2-yard plunge to push the lead to 35-0.
Norris led Creek with five receptions for 88 yards on the night, both career highs.
The second quarter started like the first quarter ended, with the Cougars scoring a TD. Following another turnover by Tensas inside its own 20-yard line, Caden Middleton hit Carter Hill for an 8-yard TD with 11:49 to play in the first half.
Cedar Creek’s defense dominated all night long, holding Tensas to only one first down in the first half while forcing five turnovers in the game. Tensas totaled negative 22 yards of total offense in the ball game while Creek managed 327 yards of offense.
Lillo led Creek with seven tackles while Blake Robinson added two sacks and Alex Simpson added one.
Following another three-and-out by Tensas, Cedar Creek took over on its own 47-yard line. It took just two plays to score as Gray Worthey took a hand-off up the middle, cut to the outside and raced 41-yards for a TD. Worthey led Creek with 98 yards rushing on only eight carries. Long’s extra point with 5:10 to play in the second quarter made it 49-0.
The Creek added one more score right before halftime. Following a third fumble recovery — this time on the Tensas 8-yard line –Parker Newman took a hand-off and scored with less than a minute to play in the second quarter. Newman rushed five times for 47 yards and the one score in the game. Long’s extra point made the score 56-0 at the half.
Middleton emptied the sideline in the second half, playing mostly junior varsity players as Creek was able to rest their starters while getting valuable snaps for some younger guys.
“I’ve seen it in JV games,” said Middleton referring to the younger players getting an opportunity to see significant snaps. “I’ve seen a lot of them. They all got to play and got some valuable experience tonight.”
Creek will host River Oaks Thursday at 7 p.m. at Cougar Stadium.
“We are ready to get going in district play,” said Middleton. “It was a nice win tonight.”
For the second week in a row, Lincoln Prep lost a one score game that came down to the final minute.
By T. Scott Boatright
SIBLEY — Twenty yards. Two seconds. Victory was that close for Lincoln Preparatory School on Friday night against Lakeside High School at Warriors Stadium.
But in a game that became a defensive slugfest in the second half, Lakeside won it at the end with an interception with two seconds remaining that gave the Warriors a 34-28 win over the Panthers.
Lakeside used some special trickery to build an early advantage, scoring on its first possession and then converting an onside kick into a touchdown to go up 12-0.
Then momentum swung back in the Panthers’ direction thanks to the combination of quarterback Bralyn Mayfield and receiver Brandon Heard, who hauled in a screen passes and took it 40 yards to paydirt before Chauncy Harper’s touchdown run put Lincoln Prep on top 14-12.
After the Warriors battled back in front 20-14, Lincoln Prep regained the lead in the second quarter as Harper moved to quarterback and directed another scoring drive that put the Panthers on top 22-20 at halftime.
Lakeside opened the second half with another onsides kick recovery.
“They did it again,” said Panthers coach Glen Hall. “We knew it might be coming. We had practiced for it. But we bobbled it again and they recovered it. They went down and scored on that first drive of the second half to go up 26-22.”
The Warriors pushed that lead to 34-22 with around three minutes remaining.
“We were gambling because time was running out, so we went for it on a fourth-and-long in our territory,” Hall said. “They stopped us and scored to go up by 12.
“So we get the ball back and I put Chauncy in at quarterback,” Hall said. “Harper threw a 45-yard touchdown to Heard to make it 34-28.”
Lakeside fumbled the ball away on its own 45-yard line on the ensuing possession, setting up a chance for a late comeback win for the Panthers.
“We got down as far as their 15 but then lost a few and ended up on the 20-yard line,” Hall said. “Chauncy got hurt at quarterback and I had to put Bralyn back in. He throws what should have been a touchdown but it was totally dropped. The with two seconds left, he threw a pick and Lakeside returned it just enough to run out the clock.”
Hall said that final play sums up the Panthers’ season midway through.
“I’m frustrated about the turnovers we’ve been making,” Hall said. “The last three weeks we’ve had a plethora of turnovers and those have cost us the game. Every week.
“We’ve got to eliminate turnovers. Just simple onsides kicks that we practiced for all week and we’re booting it and not hustling to the ball. It’s just killing us. We should have won the last two ballgames.
“Last week we had a punt blocked against Jonesboro. Then the onsides kicks killed us tonight. Those just can’t happen. Without those, we win both of those ballgames.”
The Panthers (2-3) return to action next week as they play at Richwood, which stands at 3-2 after falling to Sterlington 36-20 Friday night.
Aaron Jackson hauled in three TDs in a 27-21 win over Neville Friday night. (photo by Josh McDaniel)
By T. Scott Boatright
Football coaches love going with the hot hands.
And during Friday’s 27-21 win for the Ruston Bearcats over Neville, nobody’s hands were hotter than Aaron Jackson’s.
Or softer. Or stronger. Or stickier, as the senior receiver’s hands hauled in six passes for 129 yards and three scores
After playing two seasons for the Bearcats, Jackson spent his junior season playing for Neville before returning to Ruston this summer and becoming a force as an RHS receiver.
“We knew what a good receiver he was and missed him when he was gone last year,” said RHS coach Jerrod Baugh. “We’re glad he’s here. Obviously he makes a big impact for our football team.
“Neville was stacking people in there because they knew we were going to try and run the football. But that left (Jackson) matched up one-on-one, and he can win those most times.”
Baugh said he’s not surprised at the impact the 6-2, 175-pounder has made halfway through his senior season.
“We’ve known how good he can be since he was in junior high,” Baugh said. “I’m proud of him and glad he got a chance to make some plays. It’s been a good change for him and us since he’s come back and it was good to be able to throw the ball a little the way we did tonight.”
Averaging 21 yards per reception against a Neville team that held the run-first Bearcats to 134 total rushing yards was a factor Baugh knows was big in helping the Bearcats get the win.
“It was a really big,” Baugh said of Jackson’s performance. “(RHS quarterback) Jaden (Osborne) threw the ball well, too. It’s about finding a way. Last week it was lining up and running the football. We keep shooting ourselves in the foot letting it get close late, but we’re finding ways to win, and that’s what counts most of all.”
Six of Osborne’s nine completions on the night went to the teammate he’s playing throwing to for years now
“Our chemistry is building, but it’s been building a long, long time,” Osborne said of his teamwork with Jackson. “We’ve been playing together since we were 12. The chemistry has always been there and when he came back it was like he never left.
“But playing more and getting more experience has helped us both. We kind of know what each other are thinking and what we need to do to get the job done.”
Hard work has also helped strengthen their relationship.
“After practice, when (kickers) are kicking field goals, he’s throwing fade balls to me,” Jackson said. “He’s comfortable throwing to me and I comfortable catching it.”
It was Jackson’s second touchdown – an 11-yard skyball from Osborne – that was his prettiest reception on the night as he grabbed air to go up and haul in the score.
“I saw the safety wasn’t playing over the top and wasn’t expected, so I just threw it up there and let him get it,” Osborne said. “I knew if I did that, then he’d make the play.”
It was a play Jackson said he knew he had to make.
“I knew it was mine,” Jackson said. “I saw it up there and saw it was floating down to me and I just had to go up and make the play. I had to go up and get it.”
Jackson hauled in his third touchdown on a 17-yard scoring strike from Osborne with 5:47 remaining.
But Jackson was ejected after the score for a second penalty for too much celebrating.
“He’ll be back next week,” Baugh said. “That second unsportsmanlike was because he shook some hands over the sideline. I’m not totally sure what that was about. We’ll see. But he’ll back next week.”
Jackson said he was surprised by the ejection.
“I didn’t expect that,” Jackson said of the call and the ejection. “I did it a couple of weeks ago and they didn’t call it. I was just dapping people I’ve known for a long time.”
Jackson admitted that spending a season as a Tiger helped as he faced them again as a Bearcat.
“I know what they like to do,” Jackson said. “Practicing against them as much as I did last year, I know those guys. I wanted this game bad. We knew it’s always a big game when Ruston plays Neville. It was very important for me. I wanted to beat them, but all the guys knew this was a big game for all of us. We needed to beat them and keep pushing forward.”
When asked about the key to his receiving ability, Jackson didn’t have to think about the question.
“It’s the hands,” Jackson said about the key to his ability. “I just love catching footballs.”
And with performances like the one he turned in against Neville, the 4-1 Bearcats are likely to stay with those hot hands as they move into the second half of the season.
Accomplishments/Activities: Cheerleader (4 years) – serving as Captain senior year; Quota Club (4 years); French Club (3 years); Varsity Tennis (3 years); Published in the CLAW (3 years); Student Council Secretary; Cougar Ambassador (2 years); National Honor Society (2 years); Girls State (Senior Year)
Accomplishments/Activities: Emerald Entertainer (3 years) – serving as Senior Lieutenant; Cougar Ambassador (3 years); National Honor Society (2 years); Drama Club (2 years); Key Club (4 years); FCA (4 years); Literary Rally (1st in state in Journalism, 1st place in district for Eng. 1); Published in the CLAW (3 years); DECA (3 years) — Louisiana DECA state president, former VP of marketing and communication; Girls State Delegate- American Legion Scholarship Winner;
Accomplishments/Activities: Varsity Softball (6 years) – LA Tech Softball commit; Varsity Basketball (4 years); Quota Club (4 years); French Club (4 years); FCA (4 years); Key Club (3 years); National Honor Society (2 years)’
Honor Roll (4 years); Published in The Claw (2 years)
Volunteer Work: 4 Paws Animal Shelter, Cedar Creek elementary basketball camps, Cedar Creek elementary softball camps
Maid Chloe Elizabeth Brashear
Parents: Jade and Travis Cannon; Kate and Jed Brashear
Accomplishments/Activities: National Honor Society; Honor Roll; French Club; Quota Club; DECA; Key Club; FCA; Yearbook Staff; National Anthem Singer for Creek and local sporting events; Cheerleader (4 years); Powerlifting team; Varsity Softball (6 years)
Volunteer Work: Ruston Dixie Softball Coaching, CC Peewee/Middle School Softball, CC Peewee Cheer Coach, Blood Donor
Hue Jackson will lead the Cougar against Prairie View A&M today.
By T. Scott Boatright
Grambling State’s version of football lost and found continues this evening with the Tigers playing Prairie View A&M at 6 p.m. in the State Fair Classic at The Cotton Bowl in Dallas.
The G-Men will be looking to earn something that was missing during last week’s loss at Bethune-Cookman — the “G” that has adorned its helmets for decades.
They will also be looking for a complete game, something that’s been elusive for Grambling (1-4), which has collapsed in two straight second halves, including last week against Bethune-Cookman when the Tigers led 19-17 at intermission only to end up on the losing side of a 36-19 scoreboard.
The G-Men are expected to be without their iconic G again against Prairie View. Legendary Coach Eddie Robinson once had it removed from the helmets trying to spark an inconsistent team, and current GSU head coach Hue Jackson did the same last week as his squad played with simple solid black helmets.
“There’s a standard you have to have as a Grambling State football player,” Jackson said during a press conference earlier this week. “That ‘G’ does stand for greatness. It’s something you earn.
“It’s not something that’s given. These young men get it and they want to do everything they can to earn it and wear it the right way.”
But they’ll have to play the whole game in order to accomplish that.
Over their three losses this season, the Tigers have been outscored 92-10. Their opponents have controlled time of possession – 34:59 minutes per game compared to 25:01 for GSU.
GSU has recorded 57 first downs compared to 107 for its opponents. Grambling has thrown five interceptions compared to only two for their opponents.
On total offense, opponents are averaging 485.3 yards per game while holding GSU to 305.3
But still, GSU has shown it can be competitive at times.
The Tigers have scored on six of seven trips to the red zone, striking paydirt on four of those opportunities.
Grambling dominated the first half in a 47-21 Game 2 win over Northwestern State but were outscored 14-6 after halftime. The following week GSU trailed only 21-17 only to fall 66-24 at Jackson State.
Then last weekend the Tigers outgained Bethune-Cookman by more than 100 yards but were outscored 19-0 after intermission.
“Through three games, in the second half, we’ve been different,” Jackson said last week before experiencing deja vu at Bethune-Cookman. “That’s my charge as a head coach, and I’m going to do that. I think our team will compete. They’ll go out and give it everything they have.
“What we have to do as a group is to learn how to finish, and finish strong. We have to understand the second half is more important than the first half. One we get that understood, I think we’ll be fine.”
And while Jackson said he saw improvement from his Tigers against Bethune-Cookman, he’s still looking for more.”
“There are still some things we are working through each and every day,” Jackson said. “I think we are building. I think our guys are starting to truly get and understand the environment I am creating for them. We are looking forward to playing again this weekend in the State Fair Classic.”
Tonight’s game will mark the 74th contest between GSU and Prairie View with the Tigers holding a 51-21-1 all-time series record against the Panthers. The Tigers are 27-10 all-time in the State Fair Classic, but have lost the last four decisions
The last time Grambling State won the State Fair Classic was in 2017, the same year the Tigers won their most recent Southwestern Athletic Conference championship.
Tonight’s game will be streamed live on HBCU GO as Charlie Neal will have the call. Grambling State will broadcast and stream the game on the Grambling State Sports Radio Network.
The game can be heard in Ruston and Dubach on the flagship station, The Peach (KPCH-99.3 FM), KNNW 103.1 FM in Columbia and Monroe and KEDG 106.9 FM in Alexandria and Pineville with the Tigers’ broadcast crew of Ossie Clark, Chyelle Flowers and T. Lay Collins calling all of the action.
You have until 10 a.m. this morning to click on the link above to make your submission for the Week 4 Karl Malone Toyota NFL Pickem Contest presented by 511 and BRCC.
Joe Peel, Zoe Collum and Barry Morales have already benefited from doing just that!
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It’s easy. Each week pick the 10 NFL games that we list and have a chance to win cash and gift cards. The week 4 prizes are $100 and a $50 gift card to Dawghouse.
One lucky (or smart) pick’em guru will walk away with $150 worth of cash and prizes. The weekly deadline is Saturday at 10 a.m. (prior to Sunday’s NFL games).
Anyone is eligible to participate (only one entry per contestant). Each week the winner will be the participant with the best record out of 10 selected NFL games (ties will be broken by two separate tiebreakers consisting of guessing the total points scored in two of our weekly contests).
There is no entry fee, just like there is no cost to subscribe to the Lincoln Parish Journal.
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