By MATT VINES, Journal Sports
When Natchitoches Central running back Kelton Howard scurried into the end zone for a 34-yard touchdown late in the third quarter Friday at Turpin Stadium, he created an 11-point lead to a Chiefs’ team searching for its first District 1-5A win.
But visiting Huntington (5-4, 5-2) scored the game’s final 22 points from there in a 36-25 Raiders’ win, including a wild final four minutes in which Huntington had three possessions to one all-too-brief series for the Chiefs (1-8, 0-7).
“This was a game in which we had to figure some things out in both halves and clawed our way back to take leads in both halves,” said NCHS coach Brad Laird. “But we have to learn how to keep attacking and finish when we get in that position.
“These kids deserve a win, and they worked hard to get a win. That was an emotional fourth quarter with a lot of ups and downs, but our guys are continuing to improve and continuing to fight.”
The Huntington comeback started when bulky back Nyles Hullaby smashed through for a 1-yard touchdown late in the third quarter in quick response to NCHS’s score. The Chiefs still clung to a 25-20 advantage.
With just four minutes remaining, it appeared Hullaby was about to score his third touchdown of the night when he had a clear path to the end zone.
But an NCHS defender came in from Hullaby’s side to rip the ball away, and the Chiefs forced and recovered their second fumble of the night on the goal line.
From the shadow of their own goal posts, the Chiefs lost yardage on a first-down run before the Huntington defense swallowed up an NCHS ball carrier in the end zone for a safety.
Still, NCHS led 25-22 with two minutes left.
Because of the safety, Huntington received the kickoff and marched down the field in four plays leaning on Jamarion Washington.
Washington scored on a seven-yard run with 1:29 remaining to put Huntington ahead, 30-25.
As Owen Smith and the NCHS offense prepared for their last push, Huntington’s kickoff ricocheted off a Chiefs up man as the Raiders swarmed to recover.
Washington added one more score with a 30-yard jaunt to put the game away.
The loss is the Chiefs’ eighth straight since a season-opening win against Breaux Bridge.
The streak started with three straight losses of at least 20 points, but four of the last five NCHS defeats have come by 11 points or less.
Huntington snapped its own three-game losing streak after the Raiders took the district by storm with a 4-0 start.
Trailing 8-0, the Chiefs scored two touchdowns in the final five minutes of the first half to snatch a 13-8 lead.
Smith tossed a 1-yard strike to Caden Kuykendall (as the Chiefs continue to find weapons all over the roster) before connecting with primary receiver KJ Newton for a 24-yard score.
The junior quarterback finished with 163 yards on 8-of-15 passing with three touchdowns, which included a 53-yard touchdown to Newton to push NCHS to a 19-14 edge in the third quarter.
Newton had 133 yards on four catches. Smith was the leading rusher at 48 yards with Howard in tow at 47 yards.
For Huntington, Washington rushed for 169 yards with Hullaby adding 90. Washington added three catches for 28 yards.
NCHS will honor 15 seniors this coming week as the Chiefs finish their season at home against Benton (1-8, 1-6) Friday night.
Contact Matt at sports@journalservicesllc.com
