Haughton posted a convincing 27-3 win over visiting Captain Shreve Friday night in a game as notable for its short duration as the score.
“Our offense took what they gave us, which was the ground game,” said Haughton Coach Rodney Guin.
The Bucs improved to 6-2 overall and 1-2 in District 1-5A. According to Louisiana prep website kenramsey.com, they have a power rating of 22. Power ratings determine playoff participants and seedings. The top 32 teams qualify.
After two straight losses in district play, Guin stopped having some athletes play both offense and defense so his team wouldn’t wear out in the second half. The strategy paid off.
The Gators were never able to get a grip on running back Jarred Craft, who instead chewed them up for 137 yards on 21 carries and scored two touchdowns. The effective running game, combined with relatively few passes by both teams, allowed the game to be completed prior to 9 p.m., a scant two hours in real time.
Captain Shreve won the coin toss but deferred, giving the Bucs first opportunity on offense and Haughton promptly responded to the act of kindness by marching 80 yards down the field with Craft scoring from nine yards out. The PAT failed for a 6-0 lead.
A couple of series later, Captain Shreve kicked a field goal at the 2:45 mark in the first quarter to close the gap to 6-3.
It was as close as the Gators got.
Haughton scored on a James Almond run at the 9:50 mark in the second quarter for a 13-3 lead that stood at halftime.
The only score of the third quarter was a P.J. Douglas TD reception from Almond with 3:01 remaining to make the score 20-3. The closet Captain got to a scoring drive stalled and then failed on a fake field goal attempt.
Craft drove the nail in the coffin at the 10:19 mark in the fourth quarter with a touchdown run right up the middle for a 27-3 lead.
Guin said he was pleased with his team’s effort.
“This was the best complete game we’ve played all year,” Guin said. “Our defense played well and we ran extremely well. It was a good, clean game which is what we needed.”
