For the first 18 minutes of Friday’s matchup against the defending Division IV state champion and Class A’s No. 1-ranked powerhouse, the Calvary Cavaliers, the visiting Glenbrook Apaches made a statement that they definitely belong in the LHSAA.
The 58-14 final score isn’t indicative of the quality of the Apaches’ efforts in their first year in the LHSAA, and their first ever District 1-1A contest, despite going in overmatched by the established Shreveport football program.
After a Maddox Mandino opening kick return set the Apaches up at the 50-yard line, the offense quickly moved down inside the Cavalier 15 before a costly turnover. Like championship teams usually do, Cavaliers went on a 12-play 68-yard touchdown drive to go up 7-0.
The Apaches offense hit another snag on their next possession as a sack and fumble gave the Cavaliers another two points on a safety. A short kickoff gave Calvary outstanding field position and the Cavaliers capitalized with yet another quick touchdown to give them a 16-0 lead.
After a three-and-out by the Apache offense, the momentum seemed to be mounting for the Cavaliers. However, on the next possession, Glenbrook’s Maddox Mandino stepped in front of a Landry Lyddy pass and brought the interception back to the Cavalier 40-yard line. Six plays later, Ty Feaster found Mandino on a short screen pass for a 10-yard touchdown, making the score 16-7.
On the ensuing possession, Landry Powell picked off a Lyddy pass and gave the Apaches the ball at their own 48 as the first quarter expired. The Apache offense mounted an eight-play, 53-yard drive that was capped by a DJ Carter 3-yard touchdown run that cut the the Cavalier lead to 16-14. Threatened, with 6:43 left in the half the Cavaliers scored to go ahead 23-14, dimming any chance of an Apache rally.
As the quarter wore on, the Cavaliers’ depth proved to be too much as turnovers and missed assignments on defense allowed the Cavaliers to stretch their lead. The young Apaches continued to fight as the final seconds ticked off and the Apaches (1-1) had fallen in their district opener by a margin anticipated by many outside observers – but not without some very encouraging minutes of action early in the matchup.
“We were really proud of our effort tonight. Our inexperience, lack of size, and lack of depth showed. We did play really well on defense early. “ said Glenbrook head coach David Feaster. “We gave really great effort throughout the whole game. Even some of the guys who left with cramps, they came back out later to finish the game and played like warriors.”
Next week the Apaches will try to get back on track as they travel to take on the Lincoln Prep Panthers (2-0) in an other District 1-1A contest at Grambling. Lincoln Prep has scored 40-plus points in two lopsided wins.
