Landry Walker blanks Higgins to even record

ALGIERS, La. – The Landry-Walker Charging Bucs finally looked like the defending Class 5A state champions.

Wide receiver Devonta Jason had 8 catches for 123 yards and a touchdown and the Bucs defense held Higgins to 12 yards of total offense in a 54-0 victory Friday night at Behrman Stadium.

“Confidence,” said Landy-Walker head coach Emanuel Powell about what this win does for his team. “It’s all about building confidence for our guys heading into a big matchup next week.”

Despite racking up 11 penalties, including three that wiped out big touchdown plays, Landry Walker (3-3, 2-0) piled up 366 yards of total offense and only punted once on their first possession in an easy win.

“This was a tough one,” said Higgins coach Kenneth Bush. “But I told my guys to keep moving forward, we have 4 games left and we’re going to keep coming out here each week and try to get better.”

Higgins (1-5, 1-2) gained just three first downs all night including one on a penalty and never passed midfield. The Charging Bucs made 10 tackles for a loss and two sacks in a swarming defensive effort.

After going three-and-out on their first possession, Landry Walker went 69 yards in four plays the next time they tocuhed the ball. Quarterback Corione Harris scored on a one-yard run to give the Charging Bucs a 7-0 lead. Harris finished 11-of-15 passing for 126 yards and a touchdown through the air to go with 79 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.

Landry-Walker running back Chad Alexander broke free from 31 yards out to extend the lead to 14-0. Alexander finished with 77 yards rushing on just 5 carries and 2 touchdowns.

The Charging Bucs defense joined in on the scoring. After a botched handoff by Higgins quarterback Lonnie Johnson, defensive end Kemon Smith scooped up the loose ball and ran 25 yards to the end zone in the third quarter to make it 40-0.

Landry Walker celebrated fully on a night when former quarterback Keytaon Thomson’s No. 5 jersey was retired at halftime. Thompson, one of the greatest qplayers in Algiers history and currently the backup quarterback at Mississippi State, led the Charging Bucs to the school’s first state championship last year.

“(Thompson’s) just an outstanding kid on and off the field,” said Powell. “What he’s done for us and this program in both areas is outstanding he deserved everything he got tonight.”

Powell’s current squad faces its toughest district opponent next week when the Bucs visit John Ehret at Hoss Memtsas while Higgins will head over to Joe Yenni to take on Grace King.