Cat Tracks: Week 5
Editor's Note: Cat Tracks appears weekly in The 5th Quarter weekend football edition. This one is from the Oct. 3 5th Quarter. Subscribers can view the full edition in flipbook format immediately upon release.
Week five is now in the rear view. Can you believe the regular season is already half over?
Our four teams went 3-1 Friday night in a variety of different styles of football. Lincoln Prep had a tough one against 1A power Calvary Baptist in the only defeat.
Each and every weekend we’re going to highlight, spotlight and throw tidbits about this week’s prep football action. All four teams were in play Friday. So lets follow the Cat Tracks.
WELCOME ABOARD, TIGERS
You may see a new logo at the top of Cat Tracks and that’s because we are beginning our coverage of the Jonesboro-Hodge Tigers. Shout out to all the J-Hodge fans and all the Tiger players and coaches.
BEARCATS ON THE UP AND UP
There is a unique trend developing for the Ruston Bearcats. The rushing offense has increased its yardage total each week during the regular season from 238 in week 1 to 471 in week 5. The symmetry is amazing with running back Dyson Fields, who has also increased his rushing total each week from 192 in week 1 to 250 in week 5.
FOUR SCORE AND FIVE ALIVE
With their double overtime win over North Webster Friday, the Jonesboro-Hodge Tigers are now 4-1 on the season with a 4-game winning streak. The last time the Tigers won 5 straight or had a winning season was in 2018, when J-Hodge won 5 straight from weeks 5-9. The Tigers have already eclipsed their win total (3) from each of the past 2 seasons.
HOW LONG IS THIS FIELD, COACH?
One of the bright spots for Lincoln Prep Friday night in its loss to No. 2 Calvary Baptist was Dmitry Payne, who has made a name for making big plays this season. Payne intercepted Landry Lyddy and returned it 109 yards for a touchdown, one of two scores the Panthers managed in the game.
HOW LONG DID YOU SAY IT WAS, COACH?
Oh, and not only did Dmitry Payne score on a 109-yard pick 6, he also returned 7 kickoffs for 290 yards, including one for long distance for the other touchdown scored against Calvary.
OPERATOR, LONG DISTANCE PLEASE
Ruston High junior quarterback Jaden Osborne has been overshadowed somewhat this season by the emergence of running back Dyson Fields. In his last two games, however, Osborne has developed a penchant for dialing long distance and defenses are footing the bill. Osborne has rushed 12 times for 277 yards and 3 TDs in his last two games. All three scores have come from 60 yards or longer.
50 BURGER ON THE GRILL
The Cedar Creek Cougars had been searching for a big play offense and finally found that Friday night against River Oaks. Creek pulled away for a 54-7 blowout victory. It was the first time the Cougars scored 50 points since week 9 of last season when they scored 50 against Minden. It was also the most points scored by Cedar Creek since hanging 61 on Arcadia in week 3 of the 2018 season.
RUSTON SACK ATTACK
In 5 games this season, the Ruston defense has recorded 12 sacks, and double-digit quarterback pressures. The ability to get pressure has been a key for the defense’s emergence. Brilun Elmore had 2 sacks Friday night, which now gives him the team lead with 4 on the season.
THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN FOOT
In honor of the latest James Bond movie “No Time to Die,” premiering this week, we bring to you our very own “Man with the Golden Foot,” in Ruston, starring Brady Beason. A week ago, Beason kicked a 41-yard field goal with no time left to lift the Cats over Carencro. Friday night at St. Thomas More, he launched a 46-yard field goal with no time left at the half to give Ruston a 37-14 lead.
THE BOY WHO WOULD BE KICKER
While we’re honoring kickers here on Cat Tracks, we give a salute to Cedar Creek’s Davis Long. Through its first three games, Cedar Creek was forced to go for two after every touchdown due to not having a kicker on roster. Friday night was the debut of Long, just a 7th grader. He went 6-of-7 on PAT kicks against River Oaks.
WORTHEY OF THE CENTURY MARK
For the second straight game, Cedar Creek running back Jed Worthey rushed for more than 100 yards, going for 103 against River Oaks Friday. Last week he rushed for a career-best 149 yards against Ouachita Christian.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“We wanted to be extremely dominant. And I think we were,” said Matt Middleton, head coach of the Cedar Creek Cougars about his team’s 54-7 win.
