Seniors lead Woodlawn past Central (BR), 41-22, in final home game

Oct 30, 2022

Woodlawn’s talented and decorated 2023 class played its final regular season home game Friday.

And whether or not the Panthers (4-5, 2-2) ultimately host again in the playoffs, their seniors made sure to provide a fittingly memorable performance in a 41-22 defeat of Central (Baton Rouge).

“It was all kind of surreal,” said senior defensive end Cameron Johnson, who made multiple big tackles behind and near the line of scrimmage. “They were lining us up to go on the field before the game, and it all kind of hit me like, ‘Man, I’m really a senior.’ They always used to tell us, ‘It’s gonna go fast. Enjoy these years while you’ve got ’em.’ And it kind of came a lot faster than I thought it would.

“But it was cool how they brought us all on the field and were talking to us and then getting the win on senior night and doing our thing.”

LSU-committed quarterback Rickie Collins completed 15 of his 25 passes for 143 yards and a pair of touchdowns to fellow seniors Tramon Douglas II and Willie Nunnery.

Collins and Louisiana (Lafayette)-committed running back Jay’veon Haynes each rushed for a pair of scores.

And Southeast Missouri State-committed defensive back Dezaray “D.J.” Delmore Jr. racked up 12 tackles and a pair of interceptions — with a third negated by a penalty elsewhere on the play.

“Even though the lost (the week before) against Catholic, I want to say that was my best game this year as far as playing and learning,” Delmore said. “Central, I had more impact plays, so as far as stat-wise, it’s my best game of the season… It was just like the plays were just happening, and it really just felt great making plays on senior night for my senior teammates and my family that was in the stands.”

Woodlawn will close the regular season Scotlandville (5-4, 2-2) in a battle for third place in District 4-5A and seeding in Division I.

The LHSAA will release its eight playoff brackets Sunday, Nov. 6.

Woodlawn is No. 16 in the latest Division-I power ratings, the lowest seed to host a first-round game, while Scotlandville enters the week at No. 9, one spot shy of a first-round bye.

“We were just talking about it yesterday,” senior linebacker Jaydan Moulds said. “Even the coaches were talking about it, just how all we’ve got to do is make the playoffs and everybody’s 0-0, so we can make a run.”

Woodlawn loses heartbreaker to Catholic, 30-28, despite valiant comeback

Oct 21, 2022

Senior quarterback Rickie Collins led Woodlawn to three straight touchdowns Friday to turn a 17-point deficit midway through the third quarter into a four-point lead in the final minutes.

But a long kickoff return, final drive and eventual fourth-down touchdown pass lifted Catholic (Baton Rouge) back ahead, 30-28, as time expired on the highly anticipated District 4-5A battle.

“We started too late,” Collins said. “That’s kind of been our kryptonite for the past couple years. We’re just trying to put it together and put a full four quarters together. We didn’t play near our best game, and everyone knows that. And our team knows that. So to say that we were still close and even in the game says a lot.

“That’s a good team. Kudos to them. They came out and played a good game. But we’ve just got to go back to the drawing board and finally put it all together.”

The Bears’ game-winner was the third scoring connection between junior quarterback Daniel Beale and senior wide receiver Daniel Harden.

The first two had helped the reigning Division-I champion build a 24-7 lead.

Woodlawn struck first with a 77-yard punt return by senior Clayton Adams, but Beale and Harden provided a Catholic answer just minutes later.

A 29-yard Landon Carter field goal in the second quarter provided the Bears a 10-7 halftime lead.

And Beale stretched that margin to 24-7 midway through the third quarter with a 2-yard run to cap one drive and 26-yard pass to Harden the next.

“Our offense kind of sputtered there early in the first half,” coach Marcus Randall said. “We had some opportunities that we didn’t capitalize on and then we came out and didn’t start the second half the way we wanted to start it, came out and gave up two quick touchdowns that put us behind the eight-ball three scores. And we had to battle back, but we were able to do it.

“That’s the kind of offense we have, though. We have the type of offense that can pretty much explode at any time. If we ever put four quarters together, man, it’s gonna be ugly. Those are some of the things we’ve been preaching all year is trying to put four quarters together and play a complete football game, but that’s a good football team over there. So we knew it wasn’t going to be easy, and they were gonna make some plays, too.”

Collins and the Panthers were far from finished.

The LSU commit made two defenders miss in the backfield a couple plays later, bounced out to the sideline, then took off 71 winding yards to the goal line, then scored the next play to trim the deficit to 24-13.

Collins found senior receiver Cordale Richardson for an 15-yard touchdown to open the fourth quarter and Adams for the two-point conversion to pull back within 24-21.

Seniors Mark Fielder and Jordan Matthews junior Alex Collins and the Woodlawn defense buckled down for a pivotal stop to force a punt.

And Rickie Collins, Adams and company marched 95 yards to the 28-24 lead on a 10-yard connection between the seniors, followed by a Klayton Tate extra point.

“Coach Randall has always said that somebody’s got to step up and make the play when needed to give us a spark,” Rickie Collins said. “And I feel like I’m that person that can do it and Clayton is also that person. So I know if I can get the ball in his hands, he’s gonna make a big play always. He’s always gonna make people miss and get the ball upfield and get what we need and more.

“So just finding my guys or getting the ball to (running back) Jay’veon (Haynes). Jay’veon’s always due for a big run or something spectacular.”

But a long kickoff return started Catholic within 40 yards of the end zone to provide Beale and Harden the opportunity for one final dagger from the 5-yard line in the final seconds.

Collins finished 13-for-21 for 171 yards and two touchdowns and rushed 12 times for 129 yards and another score.

Adams caught nine passes for 112 yards and the touchdown, and Haynes had 69 yards on 16 carries.