Devin Gandy hauled in a 36-yard TD pass on the first possession of the game in the Bulldogs 55-14 win over Sam Houston State. (photo by Josh McDaniel)
by Malcolm Butler
In a game that saw very little tricks, there were plenty of treats for Louisiana Tech fans as the Bulldogs dominated Sam Houston State 55-14 on Halloween Homecoming Hall of Fame Weekend victory.
“I’m excited about how our football team played tonight,” said head coach Sonny Cumbie. “I think that the guys have continued to progressively get better each week that we’ve been out. I think tonight was really an accumulation of that. I thought we played our best first quarter all season, and possibly the best first half we’ve played this season.”
Clay Thevenin and Omiri Wiggins each rushed for over 100 yards as Tech (5-3, 3-2) amassed 425 yards rushing, the third most in program history.
Thevenin totaled 136 yards and three touchdowns on just 11 carries while Wiggins added 136 yards and one score on 14 totes in a game Tech averaged almost 11.0 yards per carry.
“When you rush the ball like we were able to do it tonight, especially with a really good plan … our players made that happen tonight,” said Cumbie. “Obviously our backs ran extremely well. Receivers blocked well down field. I was just proud of how we were able to move the football.”
Tech totaled a season-high 646 yards of offense as Blake Baker completed 17-of-21 passes for 221 yards and one score.
Despite surrendering over 500 yards of total offense, the Tech defense continued its trend of finding the endzone as Jacob Fields returned an interception 85 yards for a score in the fourth quarter. It marks the sixth defensive TD of the season for the Bulldog unit which leads the country.
“Before the pick, I messed up on a couple of plays and both (Coach Olsen and Kenyatta McNeese) came and talked to me and lifted me up,” said Fields. “I knew I was going to have to make a play after that. Then, I performed my job and executed and after that I just took off.”
The Bulldogs wasted little time in taking the lead, marching 74 yards on seven plays on their opening possession to take a 7-0 lead on a 36-yard scoring pass from Baker to Devin Gandy.
Thevenin upped the advantage to 14-0 on a six-yard scoring run with just over six minutes to play in the first quarter, capping a 58-yard drive on five plays. The highlight of the drive was a 37-yard run by Wiggins.
Tech struck again early in the second quarter. This time Thevenin took a handoff and raced 50 yards to paydirt for a 21-0 lead. Baker added a one-yard run with 6:44 to play before the half and the route was on in Ruston.
Wiggins and Thevenin added scores in the third quarter. Wiggins scored from 16 yards away, capping an eight-play, 77-yard drive that saw the Tech running back total 44 yards on the ground. Baker also hit Eli Finley on a 23-yard gain on the drive.
Thevenin followed with another rushing TD and the lead was 41-7.
“Give credit to the offensive line, of course,” said Thevenin. “It’s just a testament of the hard work we’ve been putting in. We came up short the last two games and we wanted to make a statement on the ground, for sure, and we came out tonight and did that.”
Sam Houston State added a pair of second half TDs on long runs by Elijah Green.
Tech returns to action Nov. 8 when the Bulldogs travel to face Delaware.
PINEVILLE, La. — Five first-half touchdowns and a minimal amount of mistakes propelled the Ruston Bearcats (7-2, 3-1 District 2-5A) over the Pineville Rebels (4-5, 0-4 District 2-5A) 56-6 and keep the Bearcats in the hunt for a district title.
“I told our kids that we have been inconsistent with how we pracitce and how we’ve played all year, regardless of who our opponent was — it really didn’t make any difference,” Ruston High Head Coach Jerrod Baugh said. “We need to steady that up going into the playoffs, and so that was our goal coming into this. I think we played efficiently in all three phases of the ballgame, and at this point in the season, that what you’ve got to see.”
The Bearcats, too, had zero penalties on the night and only one turnover that led to the lone Pineville touchdown right at the end of the second quarter.
“(No penalties is) great to see at this point in the season, too,” Baugh said. “In a ballgame like this where the score gets lopsided, a lot of times you have a stuff going on and a lack of focus that leads to penalties. I thought our kids did an excellent job of continuing to stay focused, and that’s really been what we’ve stressed all week. We took care of what we needed to.”
Ruston scored on its first five drives of the night, starting with a 17-yard touchdown by senior running back Jeremiah Freeman with 6:37 to play in the first quarter.
Junior Ahmad Hudson got on the board with an 18-yard touchdown from junior quarterback Sam Hartwell with 3:12 on the clock in the first after the Bearcat defense forced another Pineville punt.
Hartwell would then score three consecutive touchdowns for the ‘Cats — all in the second quarter. First with an option quarterback keeper from 14 yards out with 9:46 to go in the half, then a one-yard touchdown after recovering a fumble on the exchange with the running back at the 5:59 mark, and then a seven yard touchdown with 3:37 to go before the half.
Unofficially, Hartwell would finish with 38 yards rushing and three scores while throwing for 160 yards and completing all 11 of his passes.
Ruston would be up 35-0 near the end of the first half before a turnover by the second-string offense led to Pineville’s only score of the day. The Bearcats would block the extra point and be up 35-6 at halftime.
The Bearcats took little time in the third quarter to get to a running clock situation after senior fullback Lander Smith scored at the 9:43 mark from two yards out to put Ruston up 42-6.
Sophomore Kohl Gray would score his first touchdown of the season with a 15-yard scamper with 7:22 remaining in the third quarter, putting Ruston up 49-6 and starting a running clock scenario for the rest of the night.
The Bearcat defense also grabbed a pair of interceptions: first by junior Keilan Davis with 4:42 to go in the third, and then sophomore Holt Hunt grabbed one and returned it 40 yards for a touchdown with 6:12 to play to put Ruston up 55-6.
The Bearcats were without sophomore running back Dalen Powell tonight, but the running back committee of Freeman, Kohl and Davis DeMoss totaled 145 yards from scrimmage.
“It was a great opportunity for those guys to get some live reps in a situation where they were with the first group and a great opportunity to get some quality reps,” Baugh said.
Ruston returns to action Friday, Nov. 7, at home to take on the West Monroe Rebels, who just lost to Neville 22-19 tonight.
For Baugh, the team will have to quickly turn the page on the win tonight and get ready for the season finale.
“We need to flush this one pretty quickly,” Baugh said in conclusion. “Tomorrow, when we show up, we’ll go through and watch some video and make some corrections and build off the things that went well. Then we’ll change our focus pretty quickly, because we know West Monroe’s a really good football team. That’s obvious, and they’re going to come over to our place ready to play, and it’ll be a great indication of where we are Week 10 going into the playoff run.
“To be honest, we need to take care of that ballgame so that we’re guaranteed a bye going into the playoffs. I think we need that be to get one more week to be completely healthy going into a second-round ballgame.”
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The Cedar Creek defense stymied Arcadia in a 46-8 win over the Hornets Friday. (Photo by Tim Smith)
by Malcolm Butler
Payton Harris rushed for a career-high 203 yards and Brett Bell added another 100-yard rushing performance as the Cedar Creek Cougars dismantled Arcadia 46-8 Friday night in District 1-1A action.
The Cougars (6-3, 4-1) secured a winning season and most likely a playoff spot with the win, spoiling Homecoming festivities for the Hornets (3-6, 2-3).
Cedar Creek scored touchdowns on six of its eight possessions and converted five of the six two-point conversions. The Cougars rushed for 342 yards on the night.
“Our offensive line played great once again,” said head coach Jacob Angevine. “They really opened up holes for our guys. It just feels like anyone can (run) for 100 yards on any given night the way the offensive line is playing.”
Harris carried the ball just just 11 times for 203 yards and two touchdowns, scoring on runs of 55 and 69 yards. Bell added 103 yards rushing on just six totes with three TDs, scoring on runs of 19, 25 and 45 yards.
“Brett played awesome tonight, making some great reads,” said Angevine. “And Payton showed the ability to make people miss. He showed patience and made good cuts in the open field. He made guys miss on the next level and picked up a ton of yards after contact, just throwing guys off of him. He may have gotten jealous that Brett rushed for 200 yards last week and decided he was going to do it tonight.”
Trigger Woodard gave the Cougars the early lead, capping a six-play, 28-yard drive with a two-yard TD run less than three minutes into the contest. Harris added the two point conversion to the 8-0 lead.
The Cougars added a pair of second quarter scores on a 69-yard Harris run and a 25-yard Bell scamper, opening up a 22-0 halftime lead. Bell’s 45-yard TD run in the third quarter upped the lead to 30-0.
Arcadia scored its lone touchdown of the night on a 19-yard TD run. However, it was the only score on night that saw the Cougars defense hold the Hornets to 226 total yards.
“The best part of our defense is how they swarm to the football,” said Angevine. “We preach it day in and day out. Even if someone blows an assignment, we have 10 other guys and we have to run to the football. That can make up for a lot of mistakes.
“Arcadia’s quarterback is a great player, and has the ability to get out of tackles. We did a good job of swallowing him up tonight. We did a really good job.”
Micah Taylor and Bryce Martin led Creek defensively with eight tackles each, while Harris and Blake Robinson each totaled seven tackles. Taylor added his seventh interception of the season, one away from tying the single season record.
Creek will wrap up its regular season next week at Jonesboro Hodge.
Lincoln Prep’s Jabari Levingston (3) scored on three touchdown runs Friday night against Plain Dealing. (Photo by T. Scott Boatright)
By T. Scott Boatright
Lincoln Preparatory School’s Homecoming celebration started fast Friday night as the Panthers deferred the opening kickoff but still scored three plays later en route to a 49-0 home win over Plain Dealing.
Senior Trey Spann picked off a Plain Dealing pass on the Lions’ second play from scrimmage and returned it 30 yards to set up quarterback Josh Kelly’s 3-yard scoring scamper on the next play to put the Panthers on top 7-0 only 1:09 into the contest.
The Panthers increased their lead to 14-0 at the 6:56 mark of the opening stanza on a 10-yard run to the right by Jabari Levingston before pushing to 20-0 a little more than two minutes later on a 32-yard scoring strike from Kelly to Spann.
It was the kind of start Lincoln Prep coach Chaunce Davison was looking for from his Panthers.
“I told them before the game to just take themselves and this game seriously,” Davison said. “This game is not for everybody. You have to take advantage of every play because any play could be your last. So just take advantage of every play and just play hard.
“That’s why it was important for us to start strong and fast. We stressed them to them. This game was Homecoming, and that’s important. But we’re still fighting for the playoffs, so it was really important to come out here and play the way we did.”
Levingston’s 20-yard touchdown run followed by a 2-point conversion run made it 28-0 with 9:35 left in the first half before the Lions were forced to start the ensuing drive at their own 3-yard line due to a miscue fielding the kickoff and two plays later a gang tackle led by Lincoln Prep’s Ethan Buggs and Isaac Loyd resulted in a safety to make the score 30-0 in favor of the Panthers.
Karmelo Goins’ 30-yard return on the ensuing kick set the Panthers up at the Plain Dealing 15-yard line with Levingston running right to score on the next play to start a running clock and stretch Lincoln Prep’s lead to 37-0.
Lincoln Prep added another touchdown in the third quarter on a Loyd run before the Panthers capped off scoring with a 15-yard scoring pass from Zion Hicks to Spann with 9:40 remaining in the contest.
Hicks started the season as the Panthers starting quarterback and continues to play crucial roles at free safety and tight end, which made Davison feel it was important to allow the senior to get a little Homecoming glory himself.
“He’s a kid that I keep on saying that he’s going to be a big part in helping us get to where we need to be,” Davison said. “I don’t know if he understands that, but I think he may be starting to realize just how important he is to this team. I hope so anyway.
“Zion’s kept on working hard and staying focused. The sky’s the limit for that kid.’
Davison was also pleased to see Kelly continue the strong play he’s shown since taking over at quarterback midway through the season.
“Josh is going to be Josh,” Davison said. “He’s worked his way into being a big and important part of this team. I’m just glad we’re going to have him two more years after this one.”
Davison also felt seeing Spann and Levingston combining for five touchdowns (on three runs for Levingston and two receptions for Spann) was only fitting.
“We wanted them to get their touchdowns and get some Homecoming glory,” Davison said. “Those two guys are a big part of this team and work really hard at whatever they’re trying to do. They’ve been getting touches all year and capitalizing on them, so we wanted to make sure they could celebrate Homecoming in that way, too. Especially Trey, with him being a senior.”
Davison said he appreciates the way Loyd has become a factor as a starting cornerback and slot receiver contributing to scores on both sides of the ball against the Lions.
“Isaac has earned his role,” Davison said. “He’s one of those kids that works hard and loves this game called football. He loves everything about it and is a student of the game. We really wanted to throw the ball to him, but it didn’t work out like that tonight.”
Each and every Panther dressed for the game contributed to the win, including eighth-grader Hassen Kirkpatrick, who took a handoff on the game’s final play from scrimmage.
“It’s Homecoming and we wanted to get everybody in there and play,” Davison said. “It’s just a morale booster. Just to give some of those younger guys the rewards of working hard.”
The Panthers, now 4-5 overall and 3-3 in District 1-1A play, close out the regular season next Friday on the road at Arcadia, which stands at 3-6 and 3-3 after falling to Cedar Creek 46-8 on Friday.
“It’s Arcadia — we want to play the Hornets,” Davison said. “Ever since I was coming up as a kid (playing for the old Grambling Laboratory School), this has been an important game. It’s one we don’t have to try to get pumped about. That just comes with the rivalry we have with them. So, we’ll be ready.”
Running back Byron Eaton, Jr. (10) is expected to take some quarterback snaps for Grambling this weekend out of the Wildcat formation. (Photo by T. Scott Boatright)
By T. Scott Boatright
It almost feels like the best of times and the worst of times for Grambling State football as the Tigers prepare to play host to Alabama A&M this weekend.
Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. Saturday at Eddie G. Robinson Stadium.
The Tigers stand at 5-3 overall and 2-2 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference’s West Division after upsetting Jackson State, which was the No. 1 team in HBCU football, by the score of 26-24 last weekend in Las Vegas.
That’s the best part of the current times for the Tigers.
The worst is the fact that starting quarterback C’zavian Teasett remains hospitalized in Las Vegas after being injured late in last week’s win.
And with No. 2 quarterback Ashton Frye remaining out with a shoulder injury, that leaves Tigers coach Mickey Joseph facing a true quarterback quandary.
A’Myne Darensbourg came off the bench last week to replace Teasett and lead the Tigers to the win with a late field goal.
And while he’ll get the start against Alabama A&M, the true freshman out of Kennedy High School in New Orleans has completed only 1-of-3 pass attempts in very few snaps on the collegiate level, leaving Joseph hesitant to place the weight of being a fulltime starter on the young QB’s shoulders.
So, Joseph plans to use all three quarterbacks he still has against Alabama A&M, with true freshman Hayden Benoit out of Loreauville High School, who has no career college snaps, and running back Byron Eaton, Jr., a redshirt freshman who played quarterback at Lincoln High School in Dallas, also in this weekend’s gameplan.
Eaton ranks second in team rushing stats with 235 yards and three touchdowns on 47 carries.
“Now, you don’t want to play musical chairs with this position,” Joseph said. “This isn’t going to be musical chairs. When they go into the game, they’re going to know what they are doing. It’s probably going to take three of these kids to get us into position to win a football game, and we’ll do it.
“But we’re not going to sub them just to sub them in and out. We do have a gameplan for them. (Quarterback coach Shyrone Carey) and I have talked a lot about this position, so we will have a gameplan. But everybody’s going to have to step their game up.”
While Eaton will take his QB snaps out of the Wildcat formation, Darensburg is a running quarterback with throwing ability.
“We’ve got some work to do, but we’re not going to overthink it — it’s still football,” Joseph said. “If we overdo it, then we’re going to confuse these three young men. We’re going to sit down with these three and tell them to tell us what they’re comfortable with. And they’ll tell you. They’ll say I’m comfortable with this and I’m comfortable with that. They’ll tell us players they’re comfortable with. We’re always talking about being honest because I don’t want to put one of them in a bad situation. I told (Carey) that if anyone can fix this thing, you and I can do it. We’ve got to do it together.
“That’s why we’ve got to play three (quarterbacks). We’ve got to figure out what he can do, and that’s what he can do, and then that’s what he can do. Eaton is a Wildcat quarterback, so (Alabama A&M) has got to respect that.”
Joseph admits that means his Tigers might run the ball more from the quarterback position with Darensbourg starting.
“That’s what he’s comfortable with — that’s what he did in high school in New Orleans,” Joseph said about Darensbourg’s rushing ability. “He’s a good leader, a natural leader. We just haven’t had to count on him. But I also told him the first day he showed up for camp that he might have to play without reps. And this kid, I think he believed me. He’s a tough-nosed kid. He’s got one face. He’s got a poker face. He doesn’t get too high, he doesn’t get too low. He knew he had to run, had to scramble, to get that first down (to set GSU up for the game-winning field goal against Jackson State). And he did a great job.”
Joseph said Benoit is more of a traditional quarterback
“Benoit is more of a drop back guy,” Joseph said. “He can spin it out. In high school he did some quarterback runs, but he can spin it out and that’s what he did more of. But he’s mobile enough that he can run around if he needs to.”
Joseph expects to see a lot of the run game from Alabama A&M (4-4, 1-3 SWAC East) because the Bulldogs are in a similar situation to the Tigers.
“we want to try to dominate the line of scrimmage,” Joseph said. “But you know, I think they’re playing with their backup quarterback. I think throughout this conference. a lot of people playing with their backup quarterback or even their third-string quarterback.
“So, one thing you know they want to do, they probably want to try to establish the run. So, we want to make sure that we have gap integrity.”
RUSTON, La. — Ruston High’s cross country squads once again stand atop the district as both the boys and girls took first place overall in the North Louisiana Cross Country Championships Thursday at The Gospel.
“I’m proud of our teams and what they accomplished Thursday at the meet,” Ruston High Head Coach Dustin Cochran said. “A few years ago, me and Coach McDuffie (West Monroe) decided to open our district meet up to the smaller schools in the area and call it the North Louisiana Championships. We get to continue the tradition of the District 2-5A meet, plus it has been a lot of fun to see the meet grow and become a more competitive event on our schedule.
“(The meet) marked district title number eight in a row for the boys and number six in a row for the girls. I think the continued success says a lot about our kids and the program they’ve worked to establish. In the past eight years, there have been so many kids that have come through and given their all to the program, and honestly left it in a better place than they found it.
“This time of year, I like to reminisce about some of the past teams and the individuals that made them special. Octavio Tilley and Marina Givens were my first district champs as a head coach at Ruston, and there have been so many great names that have followed them. Dyllon Nimmers, Caleb Babineaux, Lily Garrett, and Thomas Rogers were all district champions, and eventually became state champions either in cross country or on the track. I look at this years’ team and I still see reminders of those kids and what they worked for every day.”
The Lady Bearcats took first place overall at 18 points (1+2+3+4+8 (9+12)) thanks to claiming all of the first four places, beating second-place Sterlington by 46 points. Sophomore Eden Dawsey led the way with a time of 18 minutes, 17 seconds, while senior Hallie Hebert took second at 18:49. Junior Madison Morris took third at 19:27, while Addison Brister turned in a time of 20:02 for fourth.
Junior Aydan Murry rounded out the scoring for the Lady Bearcats at 21:01 for eighth.
“Eden Dawsey added her name to the long line of champions yesterday, notching her first cross country district title,” Cochran said. “The thing I really like about Eden is no matter how big or small the meet is, she remains consistent and gives her best effort. It’s a lot easier to coach knowing she’s running at the front and leading our girls. The girls’ team as a whole ran well yesterday and did what we needed to do to be successful. This time of year I’m not looking at times so much, but rather who you beat. Championship season is all about placing and beating people when it matters. The girls went 1-4 individually and we got a lot of seasons best performances behind them. This is a great group of girls and I look forward to them stepping up their level of focus and execution as we head to each round of the postseason.”
Other Lady Bearcat finishes include:
Mary Hammond 21:11
Diana Santos 22:11
Harper Anderson 22:43
Emmersyn Nations 23:05
Lyla Boudreaux 23:11
Lilly Turpin 23:35
Rylie Nations 25:13
On the boys’ side, the Bearcats took first with 24 points (2+3+4+6+9 (11+12)), 49 points better than second place West Monroe.
Senior Al-Amin Wilson finished second overall at 15:52, while senior Luke Braswell took third at 15:55. Senior Ben Boudreaux finished fourth at 15:56, and senior Joshua Daulton grabbed a sixth place finish with a time of 16:05. Junior Wyatt Hancock rounded out the scoring for Ruston at 16:25.
“I thought the boys went out and competed really well yesterday,” Cochran said. “Joshua Daulton continues to be a steady leader for this team, and Luke Braswell is the heart and soul of what we do. Those two and AJ have been super consistent for us this year and given us the ability to be successful every time out. I was really happy to see Boudreaux and (sophomore) Billy Rufleth get in the mix yesterday. Those two have enormous potential and have done some really good consistent training all year. The race results hadn’t been what they wanted so far this season, but they stuck with it, allowed themselves to have fun with their teammates, and are getting sharp at the right time of the year.”
Other notable Bearcat finishes:
11. Billy Rufleth 16:33
13. Preston Parker 16:37
14. Kellen Ketchum 16:41
15. Charlie Rufleth 16:59
16. Eli Watson 17:03
19. Zion Henderson 17:18
21. Lucas Watts 17:23
22. Drake Purvis 17:26
24. Keegan Boudreaux 17:35
34. Tate Hammond 18:03
36. Owen Hanchey 18:07
44. Ian Richardson 18:37
53. Brady Berg 19:16
65. Landon Newsom 20:08
“We’re blessed to have 21 boys on the team this year, and they’re all doing their part to raise the standard for this team,” Cochran said. “Our top runners have changed every meet this season and it speaks to the depth they’ve worked hard to build. Yesterday, I scored our Junior Varsity boys (8-14) into the meet, and they would’ve beat both West Monroe and Alexandria’s Varsity teams for district runner-up honors. It takes a lot to be a Varsity runner at Ruston these days and its all because of how these kids are starting to approach their day to day training. As a coach headed into the most critical part of the season, I couldn’t be happier.”
Choudrant also competed in the event, with five Aggie runners and one Lady Aggie running in the event. Junior Collin Rozelle finished 39th overall at 19:53, while junior Landry Henry took 41st at 21:10. Sophomore Braxton Smith took 42nd with a time of 21:27, and sophomore Charles Lynn finished 47th at 25:49. Sophomore Kyle Mills finished 50th at 29:35.
On the Lady Aggie side, freshman Audrey Hoblron had an unofficial 33rd place finish with a time of 25.13.
More than 100 superheroes, community workers, princesses and more meandered their way through their school parking lot getting treats – but no tricks – this Halloween.
Lincoln Parish Early Childhood Center’s annual trunk-or-treat brought out over two dozen vehicles for students to visit, allowing these preschoolers to start their Halloween with excitement.
“The kids and parents look forward to it,” said Amy Brister, LPECC principal. “It’s just something for them. We do monthly activities, like at Christmas we’ll do reindeer games, and in the spring, we’ll have a Mardi Gras parade.”
Brister said activities like the trunk-or-treat are vital to the students because it’s important that this first school experience for children be positive.
“While pre-k is very fundamental in preparing them for kindergarten, we teach more than academics,” she said. “We teach social skills, we teach communication skills, because a lot of them don’t know how to tell you how they’re feeling or how to communicate what they’re feeling.
“We teach them how to share and how to use their big voice. We say that we are small people with big voices, and they do have big voices – and their voices need to be heard. And we’re trying to give them the skills and tools in their backpacks so they can be productive citizens of the world.”
Brister said this week has been exciting for the students because it’s been the week they’ve learned about community helpers, and so they had various organizations and career professionals visit and tell about their experience.
“We want to have the parents and community involved,” Brister said. “We want pre-k to be fun.”
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On October 7, 2025, the Union Parish Sheriff’s Office began investigating a string of burglaries in a neighborhood near Farmerville. During the previous night, multiple vehicles were burglarized in a residential neighborhood. UPSO Patrol deputies increased patrols in the area in response to these reports.
During the early morning hours of October 8, 2025, proactive night shift patrol deputies observed suspicious activity and quickly connected it to vehicle burglaries in the area. Their actions led to the identification of several suspects and played a key role in stopping a pattern of ongoing criminal activity. Through continued investigation, deputies gathered evidence and obtained multiple arrest warrants through the Third Judicial District Court.
During the investigation, deputies learned one of the burglary suspects, a 16-year-old male juvenile, repeatedly allowed his court-ordered GPS ankle-monitor to power off for extended periods, violating the terms of his monitoring order, which constitutes Simple Escape.
As a result of the investigation, the following individuals were arrested:
A 15-year-old male juvenile of Farmerville was arrested for Criminal Conspiracy and Simple Burglary.
A 16-year-old male juvenile of Farmerville was arrested for Simple Escape and Criminal Conspiracy.
Jamon Locks, age 17, of Farmerville, was arrested for 2 Counts of Contributing to the Delinquency of Juveniles and Criminal Conspiracy.
Brayden Shelbon, age 17, of Farmerville, was arrested for Simple Burglary, Criminal Conspiracy, and Contributing to the Delinquency of Juveniles.
This case remains under investigation, and additional arrests are expected as the investigation continues.
Sheriff Gates reminds the public that the best way for citizens to be proactive against vehicle burglaries and thefts is to simply lock their vehicle. Never leave valuables in plain sight and lock your vehicle if you are not occupying it. If you have any information about these burglaries, you can submit an anonymous tip on our mobile app or our website.
Dr. Lynn Earl Hawkins August 17, 1938 – October 22, 2025 Visitation: Saturday, November 1, 2025, 1:00PM – 2:00PM, Temple Baptist Church Sanctuary, 1515 S. Service Road West, Ruston Service: Saturday, November 1, 2025, 2:00PM, Temple Baptist Church Sanctuary, 1515 S. Service Road West, Ruston Final resting place: Monday, October 27, 2025, 11:00AM, Kilpatrick’s Memorial Gardens, 1270 Highway 544, Ruston
Huston-Tillotson University President and CEO Dr. Melva K. Wallace brought a sense of magic to the occasion Thursday morning during her keynote address for Grambling State University’s (GSU) 124th Founders Day Observance inside the Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center.
The morning began with the traditional wreath-laying at the bust of GSU founder Charles P. Adams adjacent to Lee Hall, with Grambling State University President Dr. Martin Lemelle, Jr., and city of Grambling Mayor Alvin Bradley signing a proclamation making Nov. 1 the official Founder’s Day for 2025.
Two hours later, Wallace, a two-time GSU graduate, took the stage at the Hobdy Assembly and began working her magic at the program themed “Honoring Our Legacy, Building Our Future.”
Wallace opened her speech by talking of a birthday party she attended in her hometown of Grambling when she was 8 years old and hearing the word abracadabra for the first time during a magician’s performance.
“Years later, I learned the roots of that word abracadabra,” Wallace said. “It is defined as I create as I speak … and that’s when I realized the creation and innovation isn’t about magic. It’s about manifestation, about speaking what is, not as though it were but about believing in it until it becomes a reality. And for those of you who know the Lord, that is a biblical principle.
“And that, GramFam — abracadabra — is the Grambling way. See, the reality is, I didn’t learn that word abracadabra and the meaning of it truly the first time at that birthday party from that magician. I honestly learned it right here on these hallowed grounds right here at Grambling State University, the place where everybody is somebody, with a fee sheet. You know I know the deal.”
She then spoke of the vision that helped create Grambling State University itself.
“Grambling State University, where vision was spoken long before it was seen, where a group of ordinary people — farmers, preachers, mothers and dreamers — dared to create something extraordinary with nothing but faith, focus and a few wooden desks.
“Today, we gather here to celebrate those founders, those miracle workers who didn’t need a wand, a cape or a black top hat. They used words, work and willpower and just like that, with a ‘poof’ of perseverance, abracadabra — Grambling State University appeared — a light in north Louisiana that has never gone dim.”
Wallace said that when she began attending GSU, she didn’t realize she was walking into destiny.
“But Grambling knew,” Wallace said. “Grambling knows that in every student, there is brilliance waiting to be called forth. Waiting for somebody to say abracadabra and call down their dreams to become reality. From the dirt roads to the digital age, from chalkboards to global impact, Grambling has always created as she spoke.
“When they said there was no room for Black teachers, Grambling said abracadabra and built a teacher’s college. When they said we couldn’t build champions, Grambling said abracadabra and sent legends to the NFL, the NBA, the MLB and the Olympics, thereby earning the title of “‘From The Cradle, To The Pros,’ and ‘The Black Notre Dame.’ When they said excellence can’t come from the piney woods, Grambling said abracadabra and produced doctors and judges, scientists and journalists, CEOs, corporate presidents and yes, even university presidents. And you’re looking at two right here on the same stage today.”
Wallace then told the crowd that was the legacy they should celebrate on Founder’s Day.
“Not sleight of hand, but strength of purpose,” Wallace said. “Not illusion, but illumination. And like the founders, we too are called to create as we speak, to speak possibility over our future, to say out loud that Grambling will not only survive, but soar. When I walk across this campus I see evidence of that power. New programs in the cybersecurity age, a top-notch nursing department and digital media, a World-Famed Tiger Marching Band that continues to move to the beat of excellence and electrify audiences and carry the Tiger spirit wherever we go as evidenced last week in Las Vegas.”
Then Wallace issued a charge to every student, staff member, faculty member, alum, friend and supporter.
“Keep speaking light into this place,” Wallace said. “Keep believing that what we declare with purpose will manifest with power. Keep creating as you speak, not for a cause, but for legacy.”
Wallace then looked to the future.
“When the history books are written, let it be said this generation — our generation — didn’t just inherit the vision of Grambling’s founders, we expanded it,” Wallace said. “That we took their words of faith, unity, excellence and said abracadabra, all over again. And why? Because we owe it to our families, our parents, and more importantly, to Grambling State University. We owe it to Booker T. Washington who sent Charles P. Adams to a small, rural town in north Louisiana to start an agricultural and industrial school for African Americans. We owe it to Charles P. Adams, who founded what was then called The Colored Industrial and Agricultural School and served as its president for 36 years.
“We owe it to the second president — Ralph Waldo Emerson Jones — under whose leadership saw (the school’s) name changed to Grambling College. We owe it to legendary Coach Eddie Robinson, who became the winningest coach in all of football history. We owe it to Paul ‘Tank’ Younger, the first NFL draftee from this institution. We even owe it to business mogul Thomas Moorehead, who recently [entered into a 10 million dollar partnership] with the [College] of Business.”
Wallace then also invoked Cardi B., whose “Bodak Yellow,” has been famously performed by the World Famed Tiger Marching Band during events like the Celebration Bowl and also visited the university’s campus in 2018 for a joint event with Atlantic Records during that year’s Homecoming celebration, as well as former GSU theatre major Erykah before becoming a Grammy-nominated singer and writer, as others owed by GramFam.
“And yes, we owe it to my brother and our current president Dr. Martin Lemelle, Jr. for saying abracadabra and telling the world we are building,” Wallace continued. “We owe them all a great debt of gratitude that can only be paid by preserving their legacy through our commitment to excellence in scholarship, leadership and service.
“GramFam, I say to you abracadabra. Keep using your words to keep building, keep believing and keep blessing this sacred ground because as long as there is a Grambling State University, there will always be a place where everybody is somebody.”
As communities across Louisiana prepare for Halloween, Louisiana State Troopers remind everyone to make safety part of their holiday celebration.
With neighborhoods soon filled with costumed children and excited trick-or-treaters, Troopers urge parents, guardians, and motorists to stay alert and help ensure the evening remains fun and tragedy-free.
To promote a safe and enjoyable Halloween, the Louisiana State Police offer the following safety reminders:
Be visible. Carry a flashlight or glow stick and consider adding reflective tape or clothing to costumes to help drivers spot children after dark.
Choose safe costumes. Avoid masks that limit vision or breathing—face paint is a safer alternative. Make sure costumes are short enough to prevent tripping.
Stay together. Young children should always be accompanied by a trusted adult and should never enter a home or vehicle without that adult’s permission.
Plan ahead. Choose familiar neighborhoods with good lighting and sidewalks whenever possible. If sidewalks aren’t available, walk facing traffic on the left side of the road.
Teach preparedness. Children should know their home address, a parent’s phone number, and how to dial 911. For younger children, consider placing this information on their costume in case they get separated.
Inspect treats. Parents are urged to carefully check all candy and goodies before allowing children to eat them.
Motorists: Drive with Extra Caution
Drivers should expect increased pedestrian traffic on Halloween night and exercise extreme care in neighborhoods and intersections. Slow down, avoid distractions, and keep headlights on—even during twilight hours—to improve visibility for both drivers and pedestrians. Trick-or-treaters may dart into the street unexpectedly, and some costumes or masks can limit a child’s vision.
Sex Offender Restrictions
Under Louisiana law, registered sex offenders are prohibited from participating in Halloween trick-or-treat activities. Parents can verify information about offenders in their area by visiting the Louisiana Sex Offender and Child Predator Registry at https://lsp.org/community-outreach/sex-offender-registry/. Anyone who observes a sex offender attending Halloween events or distributing candy to children should contact local law enforcement immediately.
Celebrate Responsibly
Halloween celebrations often include parties and social gatherings. Troopers remind adults that driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs can turn a fun evening into a tragedy. Plan ahead by designating a sober driver, using a ride-share service, or calling a taxi. Sober friends are also encouraged to help keep impaired individuals from getting behind the wheel.
Together, through awareness and responsibility, Louisiana families can make this Halloween both safe and memorable.
RUSTON, La. — The Ruston Farmers Market (RFM) welcomed supporters earlier this month at its annual autumn dinner, a celebration of growth, community engagement, and the year’s shared successes.
Hosted on October 2, the autumn dinner is the primary fundraiser for RFM and the Drew Jones Teaching Kitchen. This year’s event featured a catered dinner by Desi Bourgeois of Grown and Grazed and a lively silent auction that raised over $6,000 to support future market initiatives.
RFM extends heartfelt thanks to the dinner’s generous sponsors: Flying Tiger Brewery (beer sponsor), Big Creek Farms (party favors sponsor), and corporate sponsors B1 Bank, Bromell Agency, Century Next Bank, Grown and Grazed, and Louisiana National Bank.
“Catering the annual Ruston Farmers Market Dinner is an honor for me. As a board member, I’m responsible for helping sustain the long-term success of North Louisiana Farm Fresh and the Ruston Farmers Market,” said Desi Bourgeois, North Louisiana Farm Fresh Board member and owner of Grown and Grazed and Heard Freighthouse Food Park.
“Each board member brings expertise to the table — mine happens to be hospitality. It makes me feel good to contribute in a way that utilizes my skills and promotes what the market does for our community. The market is a big reason Dianne and I decided to move back home, and we hope our efforts encourage others to do the same.”
Since 2007, RFM has worked to fulfill its mission of providing direct producer-to-consumer sales opportunities, supporting the development of a local food network, and promoting education in sustainable agriculture, health, and nutrition throughout North Louisiana.
After celebrating a milestone year in 2024 in which the market earned record-breaking vendor sales, RFM expanded its vendor radius this year to include the entire state of Louisiana and 150 miles outside of Ruston, opening the door for more regional producers, artisans, and makers to participate.
With the fall season underway, community members can look forward to a full calendar of events and activities. Weekly cooking classes are held at the Drew Jones Teaching Kitchen, and registration is available now at rustonfarmersmarket.org under the “Shop” tab.
The market is also hosting a chili cookoff on November 15, so community members can show off their prized recipes. A festive gingerbread contest for children and adults will be held on December 13. Details for participating in both events will be shared soon.
RFM is also offering supporters the opportunity to win 50 lbs. of Angus ground beef and a seven-cubic-foot freezer sponsored by Grand Bayou Farms and Heard Freighthouse. Tickets can be purchased online or at the weekly market for $10 or 11 tickets for $100. The winner will be randomly drawn on December 20, 2025.
For more information about becoming a vendor, sponsoring an event, or signing up for classes, please contact info@rustonfarmersmarket.org.
On Wednesday, October 29, 2025, shortly before 10:00 p.m., Troopers with Louisiana State Police Troop F began investigating a single-vehicle fatal crash involving a pedestrian on Louisiana Highway 15, just north of U.S. Highway 425.
The crash claimed the life of 59-year-old Timothy McCullar of West Monroe.
The preliminary investigation revealed that a 2004 Dodge Ram was traveling north on Louisiana Highway 15. At the same time, McCullar, who was wearing dark clothing, was standing in the northbound lane of Louisiana Highway 15. For reasons still under investigation, McCullar was struck by the Dodge.
McCullar suffered fatal injuries and died at the scene. The driver of the Dodge was properly restrained and uninjured.
Although impairment is not suspected, routine toxicology samples were collected and will be submitted for analysis. This crash remains under investigation.
Louisiana State Police urge both pedestrians and motorists to remain alert and aware of their surroundings while on or near roadways. Crashes involving pedestrians are often preventable when basic safety measures are observed. Pedestrians are encouraged to wear reflective clothing, utilize well-lit areas, walk facing oncoming traffic, and minimize distractions.
A Simsboro man was arrested by the Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office after he made numerous drunken 911 calls while causing a disturbance outside his residence.
Hipolito Beles Williams, 44, was arrested October 26 for disturbing the peace and criminal mischief after he made multiple false 911 calls to the sheriff’s office.
After deputies responded to the U.S. Highway 80 residence, they found Williams outside in a highly intoxicated condition. He was being extremely loud when speaking, and neighbors in the same building complained of his disturbing behavior. Williams was advised to go inside his residence and keep the peace.
Several hours later, Williams called 911 again and responding deputies found him in the same intoxicated state. Williams said his roommate had kicked him out. Deputies spoke to the roommate who said Williams had damaged the door frame trying to force his way inside.
The roommate said Williams was no longer welcome there and wanted him removed.
Williams was arrested and booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center.
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.
For the latest local news, subscribe FOR FREE to the Lincoln Parish Journal and receive an email each weekday morning at 6:55 right to your inbox.Just CLICK HERE to sign up.
A Ruston woman was arrested by the Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office last week after drugs and outstanding warrants were found following a traffic stop.
Caitlin Riser Schmidt, 33, was stopped on La. Highway 33 on October 24 shortly after midnight when a deputy clocked her Dodge Challenger at 69 miles per hour in a 55 mph zone.
While Schmidt had identification, a records check showed her Louisiana driver’s license was suspended. Warrants were located in Ouachita Parish for Schmidt charging her with failure to appear in District Court on charges a bank fraud, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Schmidt was asked if there was anything illegal in the vehicle. She first stated no, but then admitted there was a baggie of methamphetamine in the center console. Two bags of methamphetamine, a hose with a glass mouthpiece attached for smoking, digital scales, a syringe loaded with liquid methamphetamine, and another syringe partially filled with liquid methamphetamine were found in the vehicle.
A purse on the passenger seat contained two dosage units of methylphenidate hydrochloride, a Schedule II controlled substance and one unit of alprazolam (Xanax) a Schedule IV controlled substance.
Schmidt was booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center for possession of methamphetamine, possession of methylphenidate hydrochloride, possession of alprazolam, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving under suspension, speeding, and the Ouachita parish warrants.
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.
For the latest local news, subscribe FOR FREE to the Lincoln Parish Journal and receive an email each weekday morning at 6:55 right to your inbox.Just CLICK HERE to sign up.
PINEVILLE, La. — It’s the final road test of the regular season for the Ruston High Bearcats (6-2, 2-1 District 2-5A) tonight as they travel to CenLA to take on the Pineville Rebels (4-4, 0-3 District 2-5A) in a district matchup.
For ‘Cats head coach Jerrod Baugh, the measure of his team’s success this evening will be more than what shows up on the final scoreboard.
“I’ve been telling the kids — we try to disregard who our opponent is,” Baugh said. “There are things we need to work on and get better at, and we have goals other than necessarily just beating whoever the other team is, and this is no different. We need to play well on offense, and that doesn’t mean scoring the ball every time. It means being productive with it: making a big drive, being able to punt on the other end and not turning it over.
“Defensively, we don’t need to give up chunk plays, and if we get put on the short end of the field, we need to hold somebody to a field goal. We need to be consistently doing that especially going into the last week of the season next week and then the playoffs.”
Ruston is coming off of a home loss last week to Alexandria Senior High 45-28 to drop the first district contest of the season. The Bearcats led 21-3 before ASH outscored Ruston 42-7 for the rest of the night. The Bearcats will now face a team that has not won a district game in well over a decade, and the coaches want to make sure the team is focused on the game at hand and not the one coming up at home next week against West Monroe.
“There’s no way to cut that with the kids, and I don’t lie to them,” Baugh said. “If we go out and play like we should, we should win the ball game (tonight). We may not play well and still win, but that’s not what our goal is. Our goals are bigger than that — every week, really. We want to improve during the game and be as good of a team as we can be by the time Week 10 is over.”
Pineville’s best weapon is senior tailback Ayden Tate, and Baugh expects the Rebels’ offense to revolve around him.
“He’s a really, really good player,” Baugh said. “I think they’ve been diligent about trying to make sure they can get him the ball out in space. And when he gets it, he’s dangerous and can get the ball scored. We just have to do a good job being where we’re supposed to be and executing the things we’re supposed to execute.”
The Rebels won four of their non-district matchups and started the season 2-0. Last week, Pineville lost to the West Monroe Rebels at home 49-17.
Ruston sophomore tailback Dalen Powell was injured near the end of the Alexandria game last week and will sit out tonight as a precaution.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. tonight. The game will be streamed on BearcatNationNetwork.com and broadcast on Q94.1FM locally.
Two teams fighting for playoff spots and ultimately seeding will face off tonight in District 1-1A action when Cedar Creek travels to face Arcadia.
Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. and the game can be heard on 99.3 FM with Ray Creasy and Ben Haddox providing a call of the game.
The Cougars (5-3, 3-1) and Hornets (3-5, 2-2) are both currently sitting No. 20 in their respective Divisions in the power ratings. Creek is No. 20 in Select School Division IV while Arcadia is No. 20 in Non-Select School Division IV.
Cedar Creek head coach Jacob Angevine said that although the focus is on tonight’s game against the Hornets, the postseason is in the back of the coaches and players minds.
“We don’t typically talk to the players about seeding at this point,” said Angevine. “But with these seniors our goal was to play in Week 11. That was our team goal for the year. We wanted to get back to the playoffs. These seniors want to start a new streak.
“We control our own destiny at this point. That was the message last week going into the (Lincoln Prep) game. We just need to take it a week at a time, let the chips fall where they may, and see if we can get a home playoff game.”
Cedar Creek is coming off a 65-32 win over Lincoln Prep last weekend and with two road wins in their final two games (the Cougars are at Jonesboro-Hodge next week), Angevine feels the program could be at home for the first round.
“I think we are locked in to make the playoffs, but I think if we win these last two we could host a first round playoff game,” said Angevine.
However, Creek must do something down the stretch that they haven’t been able to accomplish so far this year: win on the road. The Cougars are 0-2, although the two losses have come against Haynesville and Loyola Prep, a pair of undefeated teams.
Tonight, Angevine is most concerned about the Hornets athleticism.
“Arcadia doesn’t have a whole lot of numbers,” said Angevine. “But the numbers they do have they are pretty dang good. Their quarterback is their best player. He is a big, tall kid. He is one of the more athletic players in our district.
“They have two running backs that can absolutely fly. They can really go. They are a run heavy team, but lately, they have shown on film that they love to throw it around. They have the athletes to do so.”
In three of it’s last four games, Creek has surrendered at least 32 points in games against Delta Charter, Haynesville and Lincoln Prep. Thus, the Cougars must be better on that side of the ball tonight.
“We just have to keep their quarterback in the pocket and try to put pressure on them,” said Angevine. “The trenches has been our identity all year, on both sides of the ball. We have a good game plan heading into (tonight).”
Offensively, the Cougars have been rolling behind a ground attack led by Brett Bell, Trigger Woodard, and Payton Harris. The trio combined to rush for 457 yards and eight TDs in last week’s victory over the Panthers.
“Defensively, (Arcadia) has two standup ends,” said Angevine. “They are either going to drop back into coverage or they are going to rush the passer and play the run.”
With a win tonight, Cedar Creek would assure itself of a winning season.
Lincoln Prep’s Trey Spann (5) leads the Panthers with 21 catches for 481 yards and four touchdowns (Photo by T. Scott Boatright)
By T. Scott Boatright
Lincoln Prep football coach Chaunce Davison is channeling his inner Lou Holtz this week as his Panthers get set for their Homecoming game against Plain Dealing.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. today at Panthers Field.
A former college football coaching great, Holtz once said, “Life is 10% what happens to you and ninety percent how you respond to it.”
After seeing his Panthers fall 65-32 last week at Cedar Creek, Davison is hoping his team responds in strong fashion against the Lions, who enter the game at 0-8 after having been outscored 398-18 so far this season.
At 3-5 overall, the Panthers are currently ranked 25th in Louisiana Class 1A football, which means they still have a solid shot at earning one of the 24 Division IV Select School playoff berths.
That means it has come down to a two-game season for the Panthers.
“This is going to be a test of who we are — who this team is inside,” Davison said. “We’re taking things week-by-week. It starts with getting a W against Plain Dealing. It shouldn’t be hard for the team to get fired up for Homecoming. Then we close out against our rival Arcadia, another game we won’t have trouble getting fired up for.
“So we still have a lot to play for. We just have to put Cedar Creek behind us. That game is in the past. We have to take what we learned from that and keep pushing forward.”
Offense wasn’t the problem last week against Cedar Creek. It was the Panthers defense that struggled, and Davison hopes it was a lesson learned that will be remembered against Plain Dealing.
“We can’t go in over-confident,” Davison said. “We have to go knowing we have to take care of business, no matter who we’re playing and what their record is. We didn’t do that against Cedar Creek. We didn’t take care of business.
“Our players have to know their assignments. If we have a chance to tackle somebody, we have to make that tackle. We have to take care of our assignments first, and then we have to swarm to the football. We have to stay focused and take care of the mental part of the game.”
Offensively, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Panthers look toward the pass a little more than they were earlier this season.
Lincoln Prep had its most success against Cedar Creek through the air.
With sophomore quarterback Josh Kelly making only his third start, the Panthers connected on on 13-of–21 pass attempts for 269 yards, including scoring strikes of 51 and 60 yards to Trey Spann, 60 yards to Jarbari Levingston
Levingston, who has five interceptions on the season defensively, is Lincoln Prep’s rushing leader with 489 yards on the season and added receiving to his offensive repertoire last week with five receptions for 122 yards.
Something Davison will be looking for against Plain Dealing is a fast start for his Panthers, who have struggled at times to find early scores, even in games they have convincingly won.
“We know what it feels like to be hit in the mouth early and let it get away from us,” Davison said. “We need to be the team coming out early and punching — punching hard. If we get the chance, we have to put the ball in the end zone. We have to score. We don’t want to be playing from behind. We want to be playing with a lead for most of the game, and we need to make sure we play hard on every play from start to finish.”
“This is a young team overall and they’re still learning. One of the things they’re learning is focusing. They have to learn to focus from start to finish. They have to learn to stay focused even when something doesn’t go their way. We still have a lot to play for. But it all starts with Plain Dealing. We need to put on a good show for Homecoming and get the win we need.”
The Lions, who are in the midst of a 41 game losing streak dating back to 2021, are led by first-year coach Jerry Byrd, a former Louisiana Tech Bulldog who stepped down from a seven-year role as principal at Byrd High School.
Byrd had previously served as head coach at North Caddo (twice, from 2003-05 and 2012-13), North DeSoto (2006-07), and Huntington (2008).
