By Kyle Roberts
MONROE, La. — Never discount the potential for crazy when Ruston and Neville line up on the gridiron, even in a scrimmage.
In a game that saw two defensive touchdowns in the first three minutes, an overturned fumble in the second half, and a kickoff return for a touchdown, it was quite a night for all of the onlookers at Malone Stadium at the 2024 Bayou Jamb.
But fans were given a real treat by Ruston High senior cornerback Aidan Anding, who registered two interceptions (one returned for a score) and a critical kickoff return in the second period to put Ruston back on top at the end of the wild night by a final score of 20-15.
“It was a pretty crazy night,” Ruston High head coach Jerrod Baugh said. “Whenever we get together with Neville, you don’t expect anything different than that. We made a lot of mistakes tonight, and we’ve got a lot of things we need to get corrected and we have a short time to do it before Friday night.”
Anding wasted no time putting Ruston on the scoreboard in under 60 seconds with a pick-six from 24 yards out. Anding timed the slant route perfectly and intercepted Tiger sophomore quarterback Parker Robinson and entered the end zone nearly untouched. Senior kicker Jack Elliott kicked a perfect point-after and gave Ruston a 7-0 lead with 11:12 to go in the first half.
His performance was made even more special after losing his grandfather a little over a week ago.
“I thought Aidan was great,” Baugh said. “He does everything we ask him to do, and we obviously ask him to do a lot of things. He wants to be that guy that does what he’s asked. Aidan had a really tough week — I was very proud for him.”
Ruston High’s defense then held Neville’s offense to a three-and-out on the ensuing drive, with Anding returning the punt 30 yards to set the Bearcat offense up inside the red zone for their first drive of the night. Senior running back Jordan Hayes, however, would cough the football up on the nine-yard line and Neville would capitalize with a scoop-and-score of 91 yards by Tiger defensive lineman Jayson Parker with 9:33 in the first to tie the game 7-7.
Ruston’s next drive would stall out with Bearcat senior quarterback Josh Brantley getting sacked for a loss of nine yards on 3rd and 9 after getting the ball back to the Neville side of the field. The Bearcat defense, however, would hold for another Neville three-and-out.
The Bearcats’ last drive of the first half began on the Neville 48-yard line, and Brantley started the series with a 20-yard gain up the near sideline. He would bookend the drive with rushes as he got in for the score on a quarterback sneak inside the one-yard line with 34 seconds to go in the first half, putting Ruston up 14-7 at halftime following another Elliott PAT.
A stingy Bearcat defense kept Neville from getting a first down in the entire first half.
The Bearcats received the ball to start the second half, but a busted sweep appeared to put the ball on the turf for Neville’s Jakobie Collins to return to the Bearcat five yard-line. After the Tigers lined up for the play, the officials overturned the call and gave the football back to Ruston. Neville head coach Mike Collins would be called for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty two plays later to keep the drive going for the Bearcats. The Tiger defense would stop Ruston on 4th-and-2 to get the ball back with 8:34 to play.
Neville would finally get a first down on a 27-yard quarterback scramble by Robinson, but Anding would get his second interception of the night on the ensuing pass. The Tigers only tallied three first downs on the night.
Despite another long rush by Hayes, Ruston would give great field position back to Neville after a high snap over the punter’s head. Senior Zander Hayes for the Bearcats, however, would sack Robinson for an 11-yard loss and help Ruston’s defense get to a fourth down. Unfortunately for the Bearcats, Robinson would then find senior running back Jaylon Nichols on a wheel-route for a 25-yard touchdown pass.
Neville would then convert the two-point conversion on a pass to Nichols in the flats to take a 15-14 lead.
Following another unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Neville, Anding would return the kickoff 72 yards to put Ruston back ahead 20-15, though the point-after hit off the right upright. It would be enough for the Bearcats to get the win.
“Our guys, you know, they just really scrapped,” Baugh said in conclusion. “They know how to win ballgames. We found a way tonight. Regardless of how many mistakes we made leading up to the end, we found a way to come out on top. And the best teams do that.”
Hayes would lead all rushers on the night with 77 total yards. Ruston High ended the night with 134 total rushing yards between Hayes, Brookes, Brantley and junior fullback Lander Smith.
Ruston opens the regular season Friday, Sept. 6, at 7 p.m. at home against Acadiana. The game will be broadcast on the Bearcat Nation Network and Q94.1.
