Homer runs past Logansport to take Class 1A football crown

NEW ORLEANS – For the first time since before World War II, a team not named Haynesville is bringing a state football championship back to Claiborne Parish.

The Homer Pelicans cashed in on record setting defense and big plays, soaring to a 41-28 victory over the top-seeded Logansport Tigers at the Caesars Superdome to win the Class 1A State Championship.

The historic win resulted in Homer’s first state championship since 1939.

The Homer defensive speed was on display full throttle throughout the game. The Pelicans set a new Class 1A state championship record for interceptions in a game with six, breaking Southern Lab’s mark of five set in 1986. Combined, both teams set a new state championship record across all classification for combined interceptions in a championship game with eight.

Making their first Dome appearance since 1985 when they lost a defensive battle to district rival Springhill , 19-14, in the 2A finals, the Pelicans lit up the scoreboard with touchdowns in all three phases of the game.

Homer (11-3) feasted under the bright lights, creating big play after big play to build an insurmountable first half lead.

Derron Donell and Katrevick Banks both returned interceptions for touchdowns and Ely’Jay Curry contributed a 53-yard touchdown run on the offensive side of the ball, helping Homer build a 27-0 lead in the first quarter. A 79-yard Ta’Keviuntae Kidd kickoff return touchdown built the Homer lead to 34-8 by halftime.

Another 39-yard touchdown pass from Kidd to Ja’Marquese Hampton, Kidd’s third of the game, stretched the Homer lead out to 41-14 with 5:12 to play in the third quarter.

Kidd’s speed and versatility earned him Most Valuable Player honors for Homer. Kidd finished the game 7-12 passing with 77 yards, two touchdowns, two interceptions, and 79 kick return yards with a touchdown.

Curry led the Pelicans relentless rushing onslaught, tallying 24 carries for 257 yards and a touchdown. Hampton added four receptions for 49 yards and a touchdown. Devante Champ also hauled in a 24-yard touchdown on his only catch in the game.

After a slow start at the beginning of the game, the Logansport offense found their rhythm in the second half but was never able to overcome the multitude of turnovers.

Quarterback Khameron Boykins earned Most Valuable Player honors for Logansport for his efforts, as he completed 21 passes on 42 attempts for 310 yards with 3 touchdowns and 6 interceptions.

Jacob Contario led the Tigers with five catches for 157 yards and a touchdown. Jayven Claybrook also hauled in 9 catches for 102 yards and a touchdown. Thalemius Hill additionally contributed with 3 catches for 40 yards and a touchdown.

Trailing 41-14, the Tigers mounted a rally to get the game within two scores. Boykins connected with Hill for a 19-yard touchdown and Contario on the two-point conversion to cut the Homer lead to 41-22 with 10:26 to play in the game.

On the verge of answering the Logansport score, Homer turned the ball over on the craziest play of the game. Curry took the handoff at the Tigers 38-yard line and broke free towards the endzone. However, seeing a flag thrown by the official, Curry pulled up at the 5-yard line believing the play was blown dead. An alert Hill ran over to Curry and swatted the ball from his hand to force a fumble, then recovered and returned it 11 yards to give Logansport first down at their 17-yard line.

Two plays later, Boykin hit Contario for a 76-yard bomb, eroding the Homer lead down to 41-28 with 7:13 to play in the contest.

Taking back over at their own 6-yard line following Hill’s interception, the Tigers again marched the ball down the field behind Boykin’s arm. Boykin found Contario for a 35-yard reception at midfield and found Hill for 17 yards five plays later, setting the Logansport up at the Homer 16-yard line.

But, as it did for the entire game, the turnover bug bit the Tigers just one play later. Boykins attempted TD pass on first down was intercepted by Webb at the Homer 1-yard line, ending the comeback threat and the Tigers’ chances at the state championship.

While most everything else went wrong for Logansport (9-5), the Tigers did find success in the kick return department. Logansport set a new Class 1A state championship record for kick return yards, with 166 in today’s game, breaking the previous record of 155 yards established by Oak Grove in 1999.

Team…..1 2 3 4 – FINAL
HOMER…27 7 7 0 – 41
LOGAN…..0 8 6 14 – 28

Scoring Summary:

Q1 (7:17)- HOMER Ely’Jay Curry, 53-yard run (Anthony Arias PAT)

Q1 (1:43)- HOMER Devante Champ, 24-yard pass from Kidd (Anthony Arias PAT No Good)

Q1 (1:22)- HOMER Derron Donell, 28-yard interception return (Anthony Arias PAT)

Q1 (0:33)- HOMER Katrevick Banks, 50-yard interception return (Anthony Arias PAT)

Q2 (8:24)- LOGANSPORT Jayven Claybrook, 25-yard pass from Boykins (Claybrook 2-pt Rush)

Q2 (8:10)- HOMER Ta’Keviuntae Kidd, 79-yard kick return (Anthony Arias PAT)

Q3 (8:03)- LOGANSPORT Boykins, 8-yard run (Boykins 2-pt pass failed)

Q3 (5:12)- HOMER Ja’Marquese Hampton, 39-yard pass from Kidd (Anthony Arias PAT)

Q4 (10:26)- LOGANSPORT Thalemius Hill, 19-yard pass from Boykins (Boykins 2-pt pass to Contario)

Q4 (7:13)- LOGANSPORT Jacob Contario, 76-yard pass from Boykins (Boykins 2-pt pass failed)