By MATT VINES, Journal Sports
Natchitoches Central quarterback Owen Smith and the passing game got back on track with 301 yards, but the Chiefs couldn’t translate that into many points in a 40-20 loss at Captain Shreve last Friday.
NCHS (1-2, 0-2 District 1-5A) aims to take that offensive success between the 20-yard lines and improve in the red zone this week against undefeated Parkway (3-0, 1-0) in Turpin Stadium.
To do that, the Chiefs will need to establish a traditional running game in addition to the plays Smith makes with his feet.
Young running backs and an experienced offensive line did make strides against Captain Shreve, but NCHS coach Brad Laird knows the running game has to be good enough to draw attention away from Smith.
“We’ve been very inconsistent running the ball, and we’ve got to improve on that end moving forward,” Laird said. “There’s so much pressure on Owen, and we want to relieve some of that pressure.
“We’re continuing to look at things we’re doing in the running game, and our running back and offensive line situation. We’re seeing some young guys step up and make plays. We’re continuing to move forward.”
Kelton Howard gained 83 rushing yards against Shreve, which included a 60-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
Howard’s 114 yards leads the running back group this season. Smith leads all NCHS rushers with 116 yards, a total which includes the negative yardage from when he has been sacked.
A successful running game will also take pressure off an NCHS defense that has allowed at least 40 points against district opponents after standing tall in the opener (a 14-12 win at Breaux Bridge).
Captain Shreve running back Jamarcea Plater rushed for 287 yards and four touchdowns, and the Chiefs will see another stud running back in Parkway’s CJ Dudley.
Dudley rushed for three touchdowns in a 48-7 blowout of Haughton in the Panthers’ district opener last Friday on the road.
Although Parkway’s schedule date hasn’t been as challenging as most, the Panthers have dominated the opponents in front of them by beating Carroll, Woodlawn and Haughton by an average of nearly 40 points.
Quarterback Kaleb Williams can make plays with his arm and his legs, rushing for 67 yards and throwing for 139 in less than a full game against Haughton.
Parkway’s defense has held its last two opponents to single digits (Woodlawn 6, Haughton 7), with the majority of its 25 points allowed this season occurring when the game was well out of reach.
“We look forward to another opportunity in this district,” Laird said. “Week in and week out, it’s very solid.
“Coach Coy Brotherton has done a great job, and they’re a good football team in all three phases. We have to have another good week of preparation. With it being Homecoming, there’s a lot of activities going on and alumni coming back, so we have to eliminate outside distractions.”
Contact Matt at sports@journalservicesllc.com
