Calvary, Minden, North Caddo, Red River advance in playoffs

Calvary quarterback Landry Lyddy was hitting on all cylinders Friday night in the opening round of the LHSAA Division IV playoffs at Jerry Barker Stadium.

The junior connected with Jordan Wallace three times for scores covering 17, 31 and 45 yards, while finding Joseph Wilson for a 20-yard passing TD to allow the Cavaliers (6-2) to move into the second round with a 45-7 victory over St. Martin’s (2-4).

“We played well,” Calvary coach Rodney Guin said. “They were depleted with some COVID issues, but hats off to them for still showing up and competing.”  

Wilson also scored on a 39-yard run, while the Cavs’ Lane Mangum added a defensive score on a fumble return. 

Minden 28, JFK 6: The Tide (6-2) got a pair of touchdown throws from senior Trenton McLaughlin, along with scoring runs from Austin King (29 yards) and Kentravion Lister (3 yards) to move into the second round of the LHSAA Class 4A state playoffs. 

McLaughlin hit Parker Hall from 53 and 30 yards out on the TD throws. Dylen Robinson led the Minden ground attack with 103 yards on 20 carries. 

North Caddo 6, Welsh 3: The Titans (5-3) picked up just the second playoff victory in the 65-year history of the school, according to coach and athletic director Johnny Kavanaugh. Senior Charzay Morris scored on a 2-yard run in the first half and the Titan defense made it hold up.

“This was huge for the program,” Kavanaugh said. “Our defense was unbelievable. We made a huge fourth-quarter stand when Welsh (1-7) had a first-and-goal.”

Red River 41, Lakeview 6: Bulldog quarterback Trey Smith tossed four touchdown passes in limited action against over-matched Lakeview Friday in the opening round of the LHSAA Class 2A state playoffs. Smith hit Johnnie Maxie twice, while finding Brian Palmer and Marcus Brewer once apiece. Cameron Keith scored on a 4-yard run and added a 32-yard pick-6 for Red River (6-2).

A running clock was used from the second quarter forward.

E.D. White 28, Loyola 10: The Flyers (2-6) fell in the first round of the Division II playoffs Friday night as the Cardinals rallied from a second-half deficit.

The Flyers had taken a 10-7 lead on a 25-yard blocked punt return by Sam Szwak in the third quarter, but E.D. White scored touchdowns on three of its next four possessions to advance to the quarterfinals. Avain Smith kicked a 37-yard field goal in the middle of the first quarter to give the Flyers a 3-0 lead. The Cardinals took a 7-3 on a 5-yard run by Hunter Becnel with 9:17 to go in the second quarter.

E.D. White (6-2) got two touchdown runs from quarterback Caliun Griggs and another from Becnel to complete the scoring. 

Zachary 41, Airline 7: Zachary looked sharp in its return to action after a three-week break between games due to COVID-19 precautions.

Senior Chris Hilton caught two first-half touchdown passes from Zachary sophomore quarterback Eli Holstein as the Broncos led 20-7 at the half in the Class 5A bi-district playoff victory over No. 30 Airline  (3-4) Friday night at ZHS. Junior running back Connor Wisham scored three second-half touchdowns.

Zachary’s defense held Airline to just seven first downs and 70 yards total offense. Zachary had 439 yards total offense and 24 first downs.

East Ascension 28, Captain Shreve 14: The game started 30 minutes late because of lightning. Then 16th-seeded East Ascension created enough of a storm of its own, turning seven turnovers and some big plays into victory over No. 17 Captain Shreve.

The Spartans (5-3) intercepted Captain Shreve quarterback Ashton Martin five times and recovered two fumbles in the first-round Class 5A playoff game played Friday night at Spartan Stadium.

Martin, who returned from two weeks of COVID-19 quarantine this week, completed just 11 of 29 passes for 167 yards for the Gators (5-4). Kendrick Broussard had two of the five interceptions for EAHS.

Leesville 28, Northwood 27: The Falcons had not lost a game on the field this season.

They can't say that anymore.

Leesville junior running back Caleb Gallashaw scored on a 4-yard touchdown run with 25 seconds to go and Caden Catron converted on the PAT as the fifth-seeded Wampus Cats edged the No. 28 Falcons in the first round of the Class 4A playoffs on Friday, 28-27.

Needing a game-winning drive, Leesville faced fourth-and-22. After a pair of penalties on the Falcons, the Cats still needed 2 yards. Jacob Mount scrambled for 10 yards to keep the drive alive.

The Cats later faced another long fourth down and Northwood was flagged for pass interference to keep Leesville’s drive alive.

Leesville eventually picked up a first down with 35 seconds to go at the Northwood 6. Two plays later, Gallashaw raced to the pylon from 4 yards out to tie the game.

With the victory, Leesville improved to 5-3 overall heading into a second-round game at home next week against 12th-seeded Minden.

John James Marshall, Chris Chapple, Robin Fambrough and Daniel Green contributed to this report

Other area scores:

Haughton 31, Live Oak 3

East Ascension 28, Captain Shreve 14

Zachary 41, Airline 7

North DeSoto 22, Salmen 6

Leesville 28, Northwood 27

Union Parish 47, North Webster 16

Church Point 18, Mansfield 6

Basile 40 Magnolia Charter 0

Kentwood 27, J-Hodge 18

Ruston 42, Hahnville 17

University 55, Evangel 12

Country Day 24, St. Mary’s 10

Delhi 14, Arcadia 12

BYES: Byrd, Many, Logansport, Haynesville, Homer, Green Oaks