North Webster’s defense was too much for Mangham to handle Friday night.
In both schools’ first competition against another football team this preseason, the senior-laden Knights defense blanked the Dragons in a scrimmage hosted by Neville High School in Monroe.
The first-teamers squared off in two 12-play periods, and neither team managed to get on the board. Safety Ty’travion Mendhenhall made an interception for the Knights.
When the clock was turned on for a 12-minute period, North Webster turned up the heat.
Defensive end Garrett Brown and linebacker Jatareon Robinson each had sacks and forced fumbles. Cornerback Jacobreious Walker forced and recovered a fumble to end a promising drive by Mangham.
In the timed period, the North Webster offense still sputtered at times, but did manage to string together a couple of scoring drives capped by a touchdown pass of about 20 yards from Colin McKenzie to Robinson, and a run of 15 yards for six points from Jamarcus Stephens.
The Knights’ secondary was a strong point, led by Walker, who stacked up tackles along with his turnover production. Tackling was sloppy, as usual at this point of preseason due to limited full contact in practice.
Overall, the North Webster coaching staff was pleased with the result on the scoreboard and their players’ efforts, but didn’t need to watch the tape to know there were tons of mistakes that need to be cleaned up.
After next Friday’s jamboree, the Knights will open the season at home against Haynesville on Sept. 3.
LAKESIDE: Hosting Lakeview, the Warriors never got across the goalline in their scrimmage Friday night.
The visiting Gators scored on a pair of long touchdown runs by their quarterback.
Following the Warriors’ jamboree contest next Friday night, they kick off the regular season Sept. 3 at home against Magnolia School of Excellence.
