Livingston teams meet in key 4-5A football matchup
“Nobody is guaranteed a perfect script where you win every game. We need to get back to work and fix some things.” dru nettles, Denham Springs coach
Positioning and perception help tell the story of district football games in three classifications on Thursday night.
Live Oak High and Denham Springs provide the perfect example. LOHS (4-2, 1-0) has already doubled its win total for 2011 and garnered a District 4-5A victory over another Livingston Parish rival, Walker, last week. DSHS (3-3, 0-1) was ranked 10th early in the season, but dropped its 4-5A opener to Scotlandville.
“One of my goals this year was to make the second half and fourth quarter of games relevant, because they haven’t been in a while,” Live Oak coach Barry “Tut” Musemeche said. “But the more success you have, the more important each game becomes.
“I think Denham Springs is a very talented team. They’ve had a few breaks not go their way. I know they feel like their backs are up against the wall as far as their goals are concerned. It’s the same thing for us.”
LOHS travels to Denham Springs for a 4-5A game set for Thursday. Meanwhile, Tara (2-3, 0-2) hosts Broadmoor (2-4, 1-2) in District 6-4A action, while St. John (0-5, 0-1) hosts White Castle (5-1, 1-0) in a District 9-1A game set for Plaquemine’s CoPac Stadium. All games start at 7 p.m.
“We’ve got 30 seniors who have been part of this program for four years, and they understand the situation,” DSHS coach Dru Nettles said. “They’re anxious to get back out there in another game.
“Nobody is guaranteed a perfect script where you win every game. We need to get back to work and fix some things.”
Arkansas commitment Kaleb Blanchard has run for 483 yards and eight touchdowns to help lead the Denham Springs offense. The Yellow Jackets also have an LSU commitment in two-way lineman Tevin Lawson. Quarterback Michael Claverie has passed for 847 yards and nine TDs for LOHS. Wesley Howard has 458 rushing yards for the Eagles.
BROADMOOR VS. TARA: Broadmoor coach Rusty Price expects both teams to approach their game with different attitudes.
“We’ve both played Lutcher and Plaquemine, and neither of us matched up with them very well,” Price said. “I’ve got to believe both teams are looking at this game and thinking they have a chance to win it.
“Tara is athletic, and they’re playing very well on defense. We’ve got to hold on to the ball. We’ve had 17 fumbles so far this year, and they’ve cost us.”
Ryan Sibley has taken over the quarterbacking duties for Broadmoor. John Washington, a four-year starter, scored a TD last week for Tara.
WHITE CASTLE VS. ST. JOHN: White Castle has scored 172 points while winning its past three games. But for first-year WCHS coach Lamar Thomas, it’s all about the defense this week.
“St. John has gotten back to the Wing-T and the basic things they used to do,” Thomas said. “As a defense, we have to be ready for that and handle our assignments. St. John would be comfortable with hanging onto the ball for long drives. Obviously, we don’t want that to happen.”
Running backs Johntrell Taylor and DaJour Chaney combined for more than 300 rushing yards last week for White Castle. St. John’s Hunter Schnebelen has more than 300 yards.