| Current Poll |
Who do you think should manage Ferriday water?
View Results
|
|
Story Archives: Trojans upset Butcher, Block
- 2013 - 300 articles
- 2012 - 856 articles
- 2011 - 635 articles
- 2010 - 1276 articles
- 2009 - 1591 articles
- 2008 - 1763 articles
|
Trojans upset Butcher, Block
This is the 24th in a 30-part series on the top football games played in Concordia Parish.
It wasn't the type of Homecoming opponent you would expect for a Friday night high school football game.
And to make matters worse, the 1986 Ferriday Trojans were welcoming a Block High team that was 3-1 and led by the leading rusher in the state in Dexter Butcher.
Butcher had 707 yards through four games.
But it was another, much less heralded running back who stole the spotlight at Melz Field.
When Richard Bates scored from two yards out with 16 seconds remaining, the Ferriday stands erupted.
Ferriday sophomore quarterback James Davis scored on a quarterback keeper on the conversion run to give the Trojans an unlikely 20-18 win over the Bears.
"I just knew I needed to get in the end zone - whatever it took," said Davis, who is now principal at Ferriday High. "I wasn't called upon to run the ball a lot, I was more of a passing quarterback. So Block wasn't expecting me to run it. It was a great call by Coach (Larry Dantzler). That was a big win for us. We didn't have a lot of expectations coming into the season because we only had one returning offensive lineman. We finished 5-5, which I thought was decent considering what we lost. That game was big in us finishing at .500."
Block scored first as Butcher took in a Blane Hill punt at his 45 and returned it 55 yards to paydirt with 5:12 remaining in the first period to give the Bears a 6-0 lead.
Butcher then logged the ball for most of a 58-yard drive, going in from three yards out with 43 seconds remaining in the opening period for a 12-0 Block lead.
Robert Skinner returned the ensuing kickoff 22 yards to the Block 49.
Davis then hit James Leonard on a 49-yard touchdown pass to put the Trojans on the board.
It was the first-ever touchdown catch for Leonard, who started as a freshman.
"It was my first Homecoming at Ferriday and I will never forget that game," said Leonard, who is now an assistant football coach at Carroll High in Monroe. "We tried that same pass in the first quarter, but Dexter was all over it. Later, Coach Cade (offensive coordinator Robert Cade) wanted to run it again. Dexter had moved more over toward covering Alonzo Watson, who was having a record-breaking night (17 catches for 205 yards). I'll never forget that ball hanging up there. I knew if I caught it, it was going to be a touchdown."
A 60-yard interception return for a touchdown by Terrance WIlliams was called back because of a clipping penalty in the second quarter.
Block led 12-6 at halftime.
"I didn't play well in the first half, I missed a lot of receivers," Davis said. "But I thought if we kept it close we would have a good opportunity to win. The second half we were able to get some stops and minimize Dexter on punt returns. He was a great athlete."
On the Bears' second possession of the second half, Butcher broke loose on a 64-yard scoring run. Butcher intercepted a pass to give the Bears possession.
Ferriday pulled to within 18-12 on their second possession of the final period after four complete passes by Davis led to a 1-yard TD run by Bates with 6:56 remaining.
The Trojan defense held and the final winning drive started at the Ferriday 23-yard line.
Seven passes, coupled with runs by Bates and Hill moved the ball to the 2-yard line with 16 ticks remaining.
That's where Bates and Davis became Homecoming heroes on this October 3rd night.
"A lot of our fans left at the start of the fourth quarter," Davis said. "They missed a great ending." |
|
| Frank Morris Murder Series |
|
|
E-mail Story
Print Story
