Calvary Headed To Division IV State Championship

The Calvary Cavaliers are headed to Natchitoches for a chance at a state title with a 24-14 win over the Southern Lab Kittens on Friday night at Jerry Barker Stadium.   

The Cavaliers were led by Joseph Wilson who compiled 243 offensive yards (158 rushing, 85 receiving) and two touchdowns.  Roderick Harris added another touchdown.  Thomas Murray added a crucial field goal to send the game out of reach for the Kittens.  Although the Cavs had to change their game plan to more of a running offense, Landry Lyddy still had 164 yards passing and two touchdown passes. 

Calvary defense was a key to their victory.  Trey Kelly pounded the Kittens for 8.0 tackles (7 solo, 2 assist).  Dustin Lang collected 6.5 tackles (3 solo, 7 assists).  Landon Mayeaux made 6.0 tackles (5 solo, 2 assists) including 2 tackle for losses.  Cade Bedgood also made 6.0 tackles (4 solo, 4 assists).  Denham Smith made 4.5 tackles (3 solo, 3 assists) including 2 tackle for losses. 

Don’t let the mascot fool you,  the Southern Lab Kittens were a dangerous opponent for the night. Douglas Thornton ran for 98 yards and a touchdown.  Quarterback Angelo Izzard grabbed an early touchdown.

With the rain coming down in the first quarter,  the Cavaliers were unable to enable their triumvirate of Lyddy-Wilson-Wallace for the air attack.  Southern Lab sees that the defense was not going to allow Lutrell Pruit to run through the line.  Both had to adapt their normal offenses.  Cavalier went to the ground with Joseph Wilson.  Southern Lab adapted by their using the option several times and make Izzard. It worked in the first quarter as Izzard went in the end zone for a 16-yard touchdown run. The ground attack worked for Calvary as Joseph Wilson scored to close the gap on a 6-yard touchdown run.  Calvary was threatening to score again but time ran out for the first quarter.  Southern Lab had an early 8-7 lead.  

The storm system had moved out of the area and Calvary could utilize their star quarterback again.  Lyddy connected with Wilson for a 10-yard touchdown pass just 7 seconds into the quarter to gov Calvary their first lead.  Southern Lab adapted their run game to using Thornton as a battering ram and found success.  Thornton had gained 33 yards on the 10 play drive as the Kittens had tied up the score at 14.  Calvary went on a late air attack which saw Lyddy hit Wilson twice and finish off the half with a touchdown pass to Roderick Harris fit a 15-yard pass that cut the corner of the end zone.  Calvary took a 21-14 lead into the locker room. 

Defense for both teams set the tone for the third quarter.  Calvary had to punt on their first possession but a fantastic punt backed Southern Lab back to their own 1. Looked as if it was going to be a punt and great field position for Calvary, Izzard connected Carl Williams to push out away from a safety.  Pass defense made the Kittens continue to go the ground.  Not a problem for Thornton as he took them across midfield. A momentum swing for Southern Lab was in motion.   Izzard gets them to Calvary 39 on an 11-yard run.  Thornton breaks away only to fumble and loses the ball on the Cavs 19.   Southern Lab showed Calvary this was not going to be an easy task as the first play after the turnover was a 12-yard sack by Shane Forman.  Calvary would face Forman again as the drive resulted in a punt.  

The final quarter with the Cavaliers only a touchdown up.  Saw the Cavaliers defense forcing a four and out.  Seeing the Kittens defense containing the ground attack, the Cavalier triumvirate had to take action.  Lyddy popped Wilson for a 13-yard pass followed by a 27-yard pass to Jordan Wallace saw the Cavs cross midfield.  A 21-yard pass to Wallace put the Cavs on the Kittens 11.  Southern Lab defense only allowed Calvary to get to the 5.  A field goal would put the game at a two-score lead with a little over four minutes.  The attempt was no good, but laundry was on the field.   Roughing the kicker and a second chance for Murray.  Murray nailed the 26-yard field goal for the 24-14 lead.  The last effort by Southern Lab could not successful as Calvary heads to the state championship.  

Calvary will face Division IV state champion Ouachita Christian Eagles at Natchitoches after Christmas.  This is a rematch of the quarterfinals from last year where the Eagles had upset Calvary on their home field.