Grambling High faces No. 6 ranked 1A club in second round
, buddy@rustonleader.com
11-19-2009
GRAMBLING — Can the Cinderella story continue one more week for Grambling High School’s football team?The glass slipper has been fitting pretty nicely for the Kittens in this magical season.
Another win Friday night would make for a nice “carriage ride” into the quarterfinal round of the Class 1A Louisiana High School Athletic Association playoffs.
But to do so, Grambling High (7-4) will have to get past Weminster (9-2), the No. 6 ranked team in the final Louisiana Sports Writers Association poll and seeded No. 9 among the 32 programs that kicked off postseason play.
The two schools collide in a 7 p.m. regional round test at Robinson Stadium Friday night.
It will mark the deepest march into the playoffs for Grambling in more than just a decade, yet another achievements in an impressive portfolio this season.
After winning four games in 2008 and being eliminated in the first round of the playoffs, the Kittens have rolled up their most overall and district (1-1A) victories since 200.
Add, too, that Grambling has been one of the biggest success stories in the state’s prep circles since September, having risen out of the also rans in its class to being ranked as high as No. 7 in the LSWA poll.
“Our players worked hard in the spring and in the off-season and it’s carried over into the regular season,” said head coach Cedric Sherrod, due to garner votes for Coach of the Year awards at the district and state level.
“They’ve bought into what we’re trying to get done here, have worked extremely hard with a strength and conditioning program and have had a great attitude about everything. But we’re not through yet. We want to keep improving and getting better.”
Grambling erased one blemish from its regular season results when it defeated No. 8 seeded Arcadia on its own field, 22-15, in the first round of the playoffs.
A 60-yard run by junior running back Xavier Kirkpatrick in the final quarter was the difference maker for the Kittens and avenged a regular season loss of 22-7 to the Hornets.
Westminster Christian, co-champs in District 5-1A, began postseason action with a 40-7 rout over Delcambre.
It was the sixth straight win for the Crusaders, who had three of their first four victories over Class 2A opponents. The last defeat for Westminster was in early October, when they fell to Double-A member Northside Christian 19-6.
Grambling High had compiled five straight wins before losing to Haynesville 24-18 on Oct. 23 and had three straight defeats before winning over Arcadia last week.
GAME ON RADIO: The Radio Center announced this morning that “The Peach” station at 99.3-FM will be broadcasting Friday’s game.
Nick White will handle play-by-play and Mark Cramer the analytical work. A pre-game show is set for 6:30 p.m. Sponsorships remain available and be added by calling The Radio Center at 255-5000.
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Fast facts on GHS-Westminster
Site: Robinson Stadium; When: Friday; Kickoff time: 7 p.m.; What: Regional round, Louisiana High School Athletic Association Class 1A playoffs; Records: Grambling, 7-4; Westminster Christian, 9-2; Seedings: Westminster Christian, No. 9; Grambling, No. 25; Final state rankings, Louisiana Sports Writers Association Class 1A poll: Westminster Christian, No. 6; Grambling, No. 16; Head coaches: Cedric Sherrod, Grambling; Tommy Badon, Westminster Christian; Radio: Ruston’s The Peach, 99.3; Nick White, play-by-play; Mark Cramer, analyst.
Rosters
GRAMBLING
1-Rockese Goree, QB/WR/DB; 2-Rashad Conley, RB/WR/DB; 3-Kendall Denson, RB;DB; 9-Jamarcus Markray, WR/DB; 10-Jordan Thomas, QB/DB; 14-Keith Loud, QB/DB; 16-Deshedrick Thomas, WR/DB; 18-Jacorey Bass, RB/WR/DB; 21-Markise Murphy, WR/DB; 23-Dedavion Gray, RB/DB; 24-Xavier Kirkpatrick, WR/KR/DB; 25-Lecordez White, RB/LB; 26-JaQualyn Brantley, RB/PR/DB; 27-Keshun Hudson, RB/LB; 28-Nick Moore, FB/LB; 29-Tevin Roberson, FB/LB; 30-Alexander Mayfield, WR/DB; 32-Brad Young, WR/SS; 51-Jamarkus Smith, OG/DL; 53-Darrion Hicks, OG/DT/LB; 54-Chris Coleman, DE; 55-Sebastian Lyons, OT/DT; 42-Quinton Salsberry, OT/TE/DE; 61-Jaterrius Owens, OT/DT; 66-Kameron Yarbor, OG; 70-Jaylan Thomas, OG; 71-Ryland Harris, OT/DT; 75-Reginald Thompson, OT/DE; 89-Tyriel Rollings, WR/SS; 85-Roman Higgins, TE/DE; 87-Justin McNear, OL/DL; 86-Kenneth Davis, WR/DE; 88-Jedarius Hamilton, DB; 90-Marchale Hamilton, RB/DB; 92-Justin McKinsey, RB/LB.
Head coach: Cedric Sherrod; Assistant coaches: Keith Gilliard, Billy Norman, Johnathan Brantley, Brock Hays, Brian Harris, Ian Wagner, Larry Cushenberry.
WESTMINSTER CHRISTIAN
1-Hoyt Brignac, WR/DB; 2-Joseph Kowalski, FB/LB; 3-Thomas Kemp, QB/DB; 4-Tim Redd, WR/DB; 5-Clint Odom, QB/DB; 6-Christian Stagg, WR/LB; 7-Chris Laborde, WR/DB; 8-Chandler George,FB/LB; 10-Luke Judice, QB/DB; 11-Josh Devillier, WB/DB; 12-Kaleb Pope, WR/OLB; 13-James Juneau, WR/DB; 19-Jalen Williams, WR/OLB; 20-Tyler Louviere, RB/OLB; 22-Nick Waguespack, TE/OLB; 25-Aaron Shamp,RB/OLB; 28-Andrew Smith, FB/OLB; 30-Ben Fontenot, RB/DB; 31-WesleyBellard, RB/FS; 32-Parker Lapoint, WR/OLB; 35-James Martinez, FB/OLB; 40-Cole Bentley, RB/DE; 48-Hurley LeDay, RB/OLB; 53-Dwight Chautin, OL/DL; 54-Travis Bordelon, OL/DL; 55-Brandon Porche, OL/DL; 57-Jared Matis, OL/LB; 63-Luke Vidrine, OL/DL; 65-Ryan Domingue, OL/DE; 70-Dallas Ardoin,OL/DL; 72-Garret Cothern, OL/DL; 73-Patrick Lanclos, OL/DE; 75-Angelo Joseph, OL/DL; 76-Addison King, OL/DL; 78-Matt Stanford, OL/DL; 80-Jonathan Bostic, WR/OLB; 85-Sam Bowers, TE/DE; 86-Andrew Allain, TE/DE.
Head coach: Tommy Badon; Assistant coaches; William Davis, Pat Greene, Corey Hammond, Grayson Standiford, Todd Thompson, John Vice.
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