By Kyle Roberts
SHREVEPORT, La. — Returning senior running backs Jordan Hayes and Dylone Brooks made their opportunities count Friday night at the annual summer scrimmage against C.E. Byrd, with both players scoring multiple touchdowns on the ground and through the air.
“I thought both guys rans the ball really hard,” Ruston High Head Coach Jerrod Baugh said. “Jordan made some nice long runs and hit the holes that he was supposed to. And I thought Dylone ran the ball really hard and did a really good job with his pad-level. He was getting low on guys and getting extra yards after first contact. I thought they did really well.”
In the first section of the controlled scrimmage, Ruston High’s starting offense scored on both drives of 75 yards apiece. Hayes scampered in for his first score of the night with a 54-yard touchdown on a simple cutback to get free through the line and then breaking away into the secondary.
On the ensuing drive, Brooks rushed in from 14 yards out for Ruston’s second score.
Bearcat fans were able to see sophomore Ahmad Hudson lining up at tight end during the first series of the night. On a long play-action pass, senior quarterback Josh Brantley hit Hudson in the hands through double coverage, though the ball was knocked out for an incomplete pass. Hudson came over to the sidelines and was later seen icing his hand before heading to get x-rays on his right wrist. Baugh said that he expects to get an update on Hudson’s status soon.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Bearcats gave up a couple of first downs to the Yellowjackets, but Byrd was no where near able to score. Recording key tackles for the Bearcats were sophomore Jayden Anding and junior Keegan Goldsmith in Byrd’s series.
“I thought for the most part it was 11 guys running to the football and trying to gang-tackle guys,” Baugh said. “I was pretty pleased with how we handled Byrd’s option attack.”
In the second section, it was Hayes and Brooks again finding the end zone on back-to-back drives. Hayes caught a well thrown ball by Brantley from 29-yards out in the left side of the end zone, while Brooks powered his way on the following drive with multiple first down runs and a touchdown score from 11 yards out.
During the two 10-minute halves, both teams scored a touchdown apiece. Ruston’s came early after a botched snap on a punt that the Bearcats recovered inside the red zone. Hayes only needed three rushes to get all 18 yards and into the end zone for his third touchdown of the night.
“I thought we started out playing really well,” Baugh said. “I told the kids after it was over that we were competitive and played with high intensity to start. But as the game wore on, it looked like we lost interest in the scrimmage.
“Overall, it was productive with what we got done. We’ll get a chance to watch video and see this weekend where we need to improve.”
Baugh added that he was pleased with how Brantley was throwing the ball, despite a few drops.
“We’ve got to make those plays,” Baugh said of the dropped passes. “But I thought he did some really good throws in there.”
Hayes finished the night with 112 yards and three total touchdowns, while Brooks finished with two touchdowns and 100 yards.
Ruston and Neville will square off Saturday, Aug. 31, at 6 p.m. in the 2024 BayouJamb at Malone Stadium.
