Airline misses chance at historical tie; falls in LHSAA quarters
Bossier City’s Terry Slack hadn’t been shaving long the last time Airline High advanced to the state semifinals. It was 1972 and the now 68-year-old Slack, Louisiana’s statewide Fellowship of Christian Athletes director, was a defensive back on the team that eventually reached the state championship game.
“When we reached the semifinals, there wasn’t much going on at school that day because our principal, Earl Haynes, knew there was too much excitement about the game,” Slack said. “Mr. Haynes was great to handle it like he did.”
The Vikings came within a gnat’s hair of enjoying that kind of celebration again under current principal Justin James Friday night at M.D. Ray Field in their LHSAA Non-Select Division I battle with Mandeville. But the Vikings came up a couple of missed onside kicks, a missed interception in the end zone, a fumble at the one, and an untimely penalty or two in falling 56-50 to the Skippers to end their season.
Coach Justin Scogin was almost at a loss for words in trying to explain how his team lost when they had pulled out all the stops in an effort to tie history. Airline (10-2) has advanced to the semifinals just that one time in 1972 when a team, about as talent-blessed as the 2023 version, went on a run before losing to Neville in the title game.
“It was unfortunate tonight. We just weren’t able to …. I can’t think of the right thing to say,” Scogin said. “It was one of those deals.”
The offensive shootout was reminiscent of Airline’s season opener against North DeSoto, which the Vikings held on to win 53-42. It seemed throughout that the team with the ball last would win. And after the Skippers (9-4) recovered an onside kick with 17 seconds remaining, the visitors had the game in the bag.
Airline got a spectacular game from quarterback Ben Taylor, receivers Bryson Broom, Tre Jackson and Bob Patterson on the offensive side. But the Skippers’ Nate Sheppard, a junior with multiple Power Five offers, was too much of a difference maker. Playing both running back and free safety, Sheppard had multiple long TD runs, but his second-half catch in the end zone when it appeared Airline’s talented Sincere Walker had an interception, was an ESPN highlight-reel maker.
Still, the Vikings had their chance to move on if only a few things had fallen their way.
“We didn’t do a good job on special teams. That’s the first thing that stands out,” Scogin said. “We just didn’t make plays. It was just one of those games.”
Jimmy Watson covers Louisiana sports for the USA TODAY Network. Email him at jwatson@shreveporttimes.com and follow him on Twitter @JimmyWatson6.
This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: LHSAA football: Airline can't score enough to get past Mandeville
