Varnado’s Wildcats are at home tonight, hosting the Pine Raiders in a matchup of Washington Parish teams.
Varnado enters this week, following its 34-3 opening week win over St. Patrick of Biloxi, Miss. Varnado and Pine met last year, also in the second week, and Pine captured a 44-20 victory.
Varnado trailed last week’s game, 3-0, but came back with 14 unanswered to end the first quarter, and 34 straight points to cap off the game.
“We came out and we scored early,” Varnado coach Scott Shaffett said. “The biggest aspect of the game I felt was that we came out in the second half and scored two touchdowns quick. We were able to put them away.
“You don’t want to allow a team to stay in the ballgame. We were up 21-3 at halftime, but we kept any chance of a swing of momentum from happening by scoring quick in the second half.”
Shaffett said that linebacker Damon Kirsch, a three-year starter, who made 12 tackles last week, has been playing some really good football.
“Damon shows up to play on Friday nights,” Shaffett said. “When you look out on that field, one thing that’s been consistent is that Damon is ready to play. He’s a big hitter, he reacts to the football well, he covers the field well and he’s a player.”
Also defensively last week, Desmond Harry had nine tackles.
Delrick Abrams scored a touchdown offensively and defensively. He caught a 68-yard touchdown pass from D.J. Jefferson and took back an interception 75 yards for a score. He finished with two catches for 75 yards to go with two interceptions and six tackles.
Jefferson completed 4-of-9 passes for 102 yards and a touchdown. The other two completions went to Nick Darden, who also had 82 rushing yards on nine attempts and a score.
Wilbert Gray ran for 31 yards on four attempts and a touchdown. Tyrandis Crosby scored a touchdown on a 47-yard run.
Nick Blackburn was good on four of his five extra point attempts.
Pine comes into tonight’s game, following a 20-19 loss to Pearl River in a game the Raiders led 19-7 at halftime.
Pine coach Bradley Seal praised the play of inside linebacker Tate Roach, who had 10 tackles and a forced fumble against Pearl River.
“I think the last two weeks inside linebacker Tate Roach has emerged as the leader of the defense and is playing about as well as he can,” Seal said.
Also defensively last week, Donovan Kreyssig and Colby Powell each had a sack.
Offensively, the Raiders put up 402 yards of total offense last week. The problem was three missed opportunities in the red zone where the Raiders failed to score.
Quarterback Jordan Seal finished 11-of-19 passing for 107 yards and a touchdown. Running back Adarrius Berry rushed for 103 yards on 19 carries and a touchdown, while catching three passes for 27 yards and a touchdown.
Jarwin Jordan ran for 89 yards on five carries and a touchdown.
Bradley Seal said all of his running backs have done well so far.
“Adarrius is kind of a pounder,” Seal said. “He’s looking to get 5 yards every time he touches the ball, which he’s done. Jarwin, going back to the scrimmage, he’s been our big play guy. In three games, he has two runs of 65 yards or more.”
The two runs by Jordan for more than 65 yards have resulted in touchdowns.
On the receiving end, Lowell Pittman caught three passes for 65 yards while Kaz Warren had three receptions for 31 yards.
Chris Gordon finished with one reception for 15 yards.