By Matt Vines, DeSoto Parish Journal

LOGANSPORT – Dominant doesn’t begin to describe the way the Logansport football team has played during its nine-game winning streak. Logansport has outscored its last five opponents by a combined score of 234-9, allowing just one touchdown during that span.

The No. 1 seed Tigers (9-1) will ride that momentum into their opening playoff game against No. 16 Franklin on Friday. The game will be at Logansport with a 7 p.m. kickoff.

Logansport earned a first-round bye in the Division IV Non-Select playoffs as the top seed, while Franklin (6-5) bashed Grand Lake, 46-13, to reach the second round.

Logansport has won at least one playoff game in each season dating back to 2013, taking home the Class 1A title in 2016, playing in the state championship game in 2021 and reaching the semifinals in 2017 and 2019.

While the Tigers have typically relied on one main weapon in years past, coach Kevin Magee said this bunch has a deeper stable of horses. “We knew we had a large and fairly experienced offensive line coming back, and we’d figure we would play a lot of defense and focus on running the football with play-action mixed in,” Magee said. “But what happened is that we’ve molded closer to the type of offense we’ve been in the past, and now we’re pretty balanced between the run and pass. “We don’t have that one standout guy that is a state leader in a category, but we have a bunch of guys that have a lot of experience and are productive when they touch the football. That makes us more dangerous I think because these guys do it as a group.”

Quarterback Steven Holloway, whom is best known as an all-state linebacker, has filled the shoes under center in his final season. Logansport has a multitude of ball carries led by Jukadynn Carter and Tonashton Bland. D’warr’tez Chatman, D’avery Robinson and Dakamden Flemon are three of Logansport’s top receivers.

“That makes us more dangerous I think because these guys do it as a group,” said Magee, a former quarterback in his own right. “There’s not an ego on the offense that has to have ‘X’ number of touches.”

The defense, which competed well for nearly three quarters with Class 2A power Calvary Baptist in Logansport’s only loss (47-12), has allowed just one other team (Red River) to score more than 24 points.

The Tigers ran roughshod over District 3-1A, which included handcuffing reigning district champion St. Mary’s in a 20-3 win in Week 9, to secure its own district title.

The defensive success starts up front with the defensive line. “We’re physically pretty good up front, and we’ve been told by some other teams that our front is the toughest they’ve faced this season,” Magee said. “Our defensive staff puts together a great plan every week, and they focus on miniscule details and a thorough evaluation of our opponents.”

The scouting report on Franklin is a balanced offense that moves the ball in the air and on the ground. The Class 2A Hornets have won their last three games (including the playoff win), and they are no stranger to being tested on the football field.

Franklin’s opponents include Class 4A Breaux Bridge (31-12 loss), Class 3A Berwick (21-14 loss) and Class 3A Patterson (14-8 loss) along with traditional 2A power Catholic-New Iberia (49-12 loss). Franklin did knock off Class 5A Central Lafourche, 30-28, in Week 4.

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CREDIT: Hayley Farmer/Logansport High

 

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