Haughton spoils Byrd's Homecoming by posting a 23-14 win

Buccaneer defense holds Byrd scoreless in the second half after high-scoring opening half

By Channing Ewing

Photo courtesy of the Haughton Football Twitter page 

SHREVEPORT - Byrd had its Homecoming on Friday night at Lee Hedges Stadium.

However, Haughton proceeded to ruin the Yellow Jackets' festivities, coming away with a 23-14 road win.

Byrd got the Homecoming festivities started on a good note with a 3-yard run from Devon Strickland to make it 7-0 with 6:36 to go in the first quarter.

Haughton countered with a 37-yard field goal from Carter Ebarb to make it 7-3 with 1:13 to go in the opening quarter. The Buccaneers would take the lead with a big play, a 65-yard pass from Colin Rains to Jalen Lewis with 6:56 to go in the opening half.

Haughton would add to the lead on a 14-yard run from Tyler Rhodes to make it 17-7 with 1:36 to go until halftime.

Byrd did end the first half on a high note, as Malachi Johnson found the end zone from 3 yards out with 17 seconds to go in the second quarter. That cut the Bucs' lead to three, 17-14.

However, that's when Haughton's defense took over, posting a second-half shutout.

The Bucs got a game-clinching touchdown with 9:25 left in the game on a 29-yard run from Tyler Rhodes.

"It was a great team effort and a great job of execution," said Haughton coach Jason Brotherton. "This was a big win for the program."

The Bucs also got a solid performance from Rains, who was 11-of-15 for 169 yards of passing and a touchdown.

"It was the run game that was working (great) for me (Friday)," Rains said.

Rhodes reached the end zone two times in the Bucs' win.

Byrd will try and regroup when the Yellow Jackets trek across the river into Bossier City to play Parkway. while Haughton will also be in Bossier City, visiting Airline.