Haynesville’s big play ability too much for Cougars in 52-8 decision

With No. 2 and undefeated Haynesville coming to town, Cedar Creek needed to play a perfect game Friday night. It didn’t take long for the Golden Tornado to cancel those plans with two quick touchdowns before fans could settled into their seats with popcorn and soda.

Eight plays into the game, Haynesville led 14-0 and didn’t look back in a 52-8 victory in District 1-1A at Cougar Stadium in Ruston.

It was a matchup in stark contrast: Haynesville fielding a team that played for a state championship last December against Cedar Creek’s rebuilding roster with numerous underclassmen playing.

That’s just about how it worked out with the Tornado’s experience under head coach David Franklin flexing their muscles.

With the loss, Cedar Creek falls to 1-6 (1-2) on the season, but has an opportunity coming up to finish out the season with three competitive games. Haynesville improves to 7-0 (4-0) with a pair of league games still ahead.

The Tornado received the opening kickoff and on the first play from scrimmage, Donnie Critton scooted for a 72-yard gain deep into Cedar Creek territory. Two plays later, Critton took it into the end zone from a yard out for a 7-0 lead.

The Cougars were held on the ensuing possession and forced to punt and unfortunately, a high snap sailed into the end zone and Haynesville recovered for another touchdown and a 14-0 lead.

Later in the first quarter, after three straight punts exchanged, Haynesville struck again when Isaiah Washington hit Jayden Ahmad Green for a touchdown pass and a 21-0 lead.

While the Tornado was busy moving the football into the end zone, Cedar Creek couldn’t quite get the offense moving and was held without a first down in the first period.

Just into the second quarter, Haynesville struck again when Washington dropped back to field a punt and scooted into the end zone for another touchdown and a 28-0 lead. After Washington hit massive tight end Kaylen Payton for a 16-yard touchdown strike, Cedar Creek put together its best drive of the first half.

The Cougars drove to the Haynesville 35 from their own 35 behind a couple of solid runs by Mason Wooden and Trigger Woodard, but the drive stalled.

A few plays later, Zykerius Fielding went 56 yards to the end zone to up the lead to 42-0 heading into intermission.

Creek received the opening kickoff of the second half and James Myers gave the Cougar faithful something to cheer about with a 65-yard return. Creek went as far as the Haynesville 14 but couldn’t move any further and turned it over on downs.

The Tornado added one more touchdown and a field goal to build its lead to 52-0 before Cedar Creek stopped the shutout on another big play by Myers, who scored from 47 yards out late in the fourth quarter. Wooden ran in the two-point conversion to end the scoring at 52-8.

The Cougars will have a short week to get ready for their next game, a Thursday night meeting with Lincoln Parish rival Lincoln Prep in Grambling.