By: Daniel Simmons
Photos Curtesy of Tiger Snaps
The WSHS Tigers played their fifth game of the season Friday night, September 29, at Stokes-Walker Stadium against the Bunkie Panthers. Bunkie has traditionally been a challenge for the Tigers no matter how good either team is. The Panthers projected as even more of a challenge than usual this year, coming into town with a perfect 4-0 record, with two of those wins being shutouts. They lived up to those expectations, as they would leave town with a 5-0 record after defeating the Tigers 33-0.
The driving force behind Bunkie’s success in this contest was junior quarterback Dillon Compton. Compton made plays all night on the ground and through the air, showcasing his top-end speed and arm talent. He finished his night with 5 total touchdowns, 4 rushing and 1 passing, including a 90-yard run on the second play of the game. It was an all-around frustrating night for the Tigers, with no points and few highlights. Jake Jones started the game at quarterback and played the first offensive series at quarterback before handing quarterback duties off to Damascus Lewis the rest of the way. Jones had a 12-yard run and a 25-yard pass to Ryan Davis during his one drive under center, but the drive ended with a turnover on downs. The Panthers took over from there and started a long drive, ending with Compton’s lone passing touchdown of the night to top receiver Kyle Johnson. From that point forward, the rout was on. The lone bright spot in the second half for the Tigers was a nice catch by Breylan Starks on an interception in the fourth quarter.
As bad as the most recent contest was for the Tigers, it was only one game out of ten, and there are five more chances to do better this season, with all five of them being district games. District play opens this Friday, October 6 with the Tigers playing a home game against the Lakeview Gators, who are 3-2 after a 44-38 loss to Delta Charter last week. The Gators are coached by former Avoyelles Mustangs head coach Andy Boone, who has brought his unconventional strategy to Lakeview. Avoyelles has been a common opponent for the Tigers in the past several seasons, so Tiger fans might be familiar with Boone’s strategy of never kicking extra points or punting, and always onside kicking, going for two after touchdowns, and going for it on fourth down. Recovering those onside kicks will be a major key to a Tiger victory Friday night.
This week’s game against Lakeview is also the homecoming game for the Tigers. The homecoming festivities will begin Thursday morning with the homecoming assembly/court presentation in the WSHS auditorium at 8:30, and the homecoming parade is scheduled for that afternoon at 3:30 on Main Street. At the school that evening starting at 6 is the community tailgate leading up to the bonfire pep rally at 7:30. On Friday, the homecoming pep rally is at 8 in the morning in the WSHS auditorium, and that night at Stokes-Walker Stadium, the homecoming court will be presented on the field at 6:30. Finally at 7 PM, the main event of homecoming week will begin as the Tigers face off against Lakeview.
