Natchitoches Central lit up the scoreboard against a Leesville team that reached the state semifinals and won 11 games last season.

But Leesville lit up the scoreboard last, scoring the game-winning touchdown with 15 seconds left last Friday night to escape with a 28-23 triumph over NCHS in the Battle on the Bricks high school football jamboree at Turpin Stadium, presented by Natchitoches Regional Medical Center.

The teams played two 12-minute halves. This weekend as the season officially begins, they’ll play four 12-minute quarters.

Natchitoches Central kicks off Friday night at Turpin Stadium against Breaux Bridge.

In the Battle on the Bricks contest, Chiefs’ senior quarterback Owen Smith threw three touchdown passes – two to Kelton Howard and the other to Semaj Thomas.