By Gray Haynes
Last Friday, on a warm September night, the North Webster Knights welcomed former graduate, Chase Thompson, and his North Caddo Titans. Both teams came in with 0-1 records and both looked to find the first win of the season. North Webster took the opening kickoff to their own 33 yard line. The Knights opened the game with a deep pass that fell incomplete. That would be the last incomplete pass for the Knights on the evening. The Knights running game took over with a run for 29, then a run for 12. An offsides penalty moved North Webster back to their own 32. Then came a run for 10 and pass for 5 and the first down. The Knights took a sack, then a run for 18 and a scoring run from 6 yards out. The PAT was good from Knights’ kick Christian Whitlock. The score was North Webster 7 and North Caddo 0.
The ensuing kickoff was an onside attempt by the Knights. The ball didn’t quite make it ten yards, so the Titans elected to have the Knights rekick. The Titans, then, crossed the 45 yard line for an offsides on the kickoff. On the third kickoff, North Caddo took over at their own 25 yard line. North Caddo faced 4th and 4 from their own 31 and elected to try to pick up the first down on a pass. The pass fell to the turf incomplete, and the Knights took over on downs at the Titans 31 yard line. A North Webster pass from quarterback, Justin Stewart, to receiver, Jameson Harden, took the ball down to the 2 yard line. The home team scored on the next play. The Whitlock PAT was good to make the score 14-0
After the kickoff, North Caddo took over at their own 35 yard line with 5:39 left in the first quarter. The visitors ran three plays for negative three yards and were forced to punt. North Webster took over at their own 23 yard line. After a few good runs, Stewart hooked up with receiver Braylon Washington for a 58 yard pass and run for a touchdown. The Knights were ahead 20-0 with 2:37 left in the opening period. On their next possession, North Caddo picked up one first down, then they were forced to punt from the 42 yard line. North Webster took over at their own 35 yard.
After giving up a sack to lose 3 yards, the Knights faced 2nd and 13. On their ensuing possession, North Caddo fumbled a handoff at the 30 yard line. Knights’ linebacker Jakayden Jackson snagged the ball out of the air and took it to the north endzone of Baucum-Farrar field. With 9:17 left in the half, the Knights lead 34-0. The next possession found North Caddo facing a 4th and 3 from their own 34. The Knights’ defense held firm and gave the offense the ball at the North Caddo 35 yard line with 7:08 left in the half. On the second play from scrimmage, Harden took a handoff around the left side and scored from 20 yards out. He was lead by tremendous blocking from the Knights’ offensive line of Hudson Smith, Preston Dyer, Carter Maples, JaKezmon Robinson, and Camdyn Lorenz.
After the Knights’ defense forced another punt, North Webster took over at their own 20 with 3:46 left in the half. The Knights moved the ball down the field, but were unable to score before time ran out in the half. At the half, the score was North Webster 40 and North Caddo 0.
North Caddo took the opening kickoff of the second half and were promptly intercepted by Dante Owens near midfield. A few plays later, the Knights scored their final touchdown of the night from 33 yards out on a nice run by Jackson. With 8:35 left in the third period, the score was 47-0. The Knights’ JV squad finished out the game on offense and defense. Statistical leaders for the Knights were Jakayden Jackson who had 4 carries for 71 yards and a touchdown. Braylon Washington had 4 carries for 81 yards and 2 touchdowns. Ja’Myrian Jackson had 5 carries for 39 yards and a touchdown. Jameson Harden had 3 carries for 37 yards and a touchdown. River McEachern led the young Knights with 5 carries for 34 yards. Stewart was 4 of 5 passing for 98 yards and a touchdown. Washington was the leading receiver with 2 receptions for 62 yards and a touchdown.
Next week, the Knights will battle the Minden Crimson Tide for the Battle for the Boot sponsored by the Louisiana National Guard.
