Ruston Shuts Out West Monroe 14-0; Evangel Christian Academy Defeats Ouachita 21-14 in 2nd Day of Bayou Jamb

Ruston shuts out West Monroe in Friday's finale of the Bayou Jamb. (Photo taken by T. Scott Boatright)

On the second day of a loaded Bayou Jamboree lineup, four of North Louisiana’s biggest programs went at it for half a game. In one of the state’s biggest jamboree events, the Bayou Jamb has 10 of the best teams going at it.

Game 1: Evangel Christian Academy vs. Ouachita Parish

The first game of the double header on Friday featured a matchup between Evangel Christian Academy and Ouachita Parish.

Considering it was half a game, there was a lot of scoring between both teams. Unsurprisingly, the Evangel Christian Academy Eagles, under head coach Denny Duron, scored three touchdowns with their explosive plays.

Evangel Christian Academy (Photo taken by James Taylor)

The Eagles scored two of those touchdowns in the first half as they took a 13-0 lead early. It was Evangel’s special teams that immediately got them the lead with an 86 yard touchdown kickoff return from Tyreek Robinson. However, that was not the last time that the speedy Robinson would make a play as he took a bubble screen from Peyton Fulghum and turned it 76 yards for his second touchdown.

The second half started just like the first half started and that was another kickoff return for a touchdown. This time, it was Ouachita’s turn as Wydell Clark returned the favor with a 96 yard kickoff touchdown to pull within six at 13-7.

Ouachita Parish (Photo taken by James Taylor)

The Lions, led by first year head coach Benjy Lewis, came back and did end up taking the lead at 14-13 with a two yard touchdown run from Tylon Gibson.

Unfortunately, for the Lions, the lead did not last long as the Eagles responded with a two yard touchdown run from Damarion Drake plus a two point conversion with the Fulghum brothers in Peyton and Parker hooking up to give them a 21-14 lead.

That would end up being the game winning score. Both Wydell Clark and Tyreek Robinson, who scored kickoff returns for touchdowns, were named Players of the Game.

Evangel Christian Academy’s Tyreek Robinson (left) and Ouachita’s Wydell Clark were named players of the game for the Bayou Jamb, (Photo taken by James Taylor)

Evangel will go into week one playing against Neville on the road while Ouachita will start their regular season against Archbishop Rummel at home.

Evangel Christian Academy defeats Ouachita 21-14. (Photo taken by James Taylor)

Game 2: Ruston vs. West Monroe

The Friday nightcap was the Bayou Jamb’s hottest headliner featuring two of the state’s biggest powerhouses in North Louisiana with the Ruston Bearcats taking on the West Monroe Rebels.

West Monroe RB Keydrian McNeal gets a carry against Ruston (Photo taken by T. Scott Boatright)

The Bearcats, led by head coach Jerrod Baugh, are coming off a Division I (Non-Select) State Championship runner-up finish last season, and are looking for another run to the Superdome.

Ruston’s high powered rushing attack returns Jordan Hayes for another season and the Bearcats’ star running back had another productive day at the office rushing for two touchdown runs. The first one came from 43 yards out while the second touchdown came from 10 yards out. Hayes was named Player of the Game as he finished the contest with 8 carries for 74 yards and the two scores.

Ruston High School (Photo taken by T. Scott Boatright)

The Ruston offense also got some good contributions from quarterback Josh Brantley, running back Dylone Brooks, who had 77 yards rushing on the ground, and wide receiver Lander Smith, who was the leading pass catcher with two catches for 72 yards including a 56 yard reception.

While the Bearcats’ rushing attack was clicking so was its stellar defense, which was a big reason for their great run last fall. Led by All-State linebacker Jadon Mayfield, Zheric Hill, Semaj Jones, LSU commit Ahmad Breaux, and Tulane commit Geordan Guidry, the defense pitched a shutout against the West Monroe Rebels offense giving up less than 100 yards of total offense.

Ruston’s defense shuts out West Monroe out of the end zone. (Photo taken by T. Scott Boatright)

Although the Rebels offense struggled, there were some splash plays made by the offense including a 31 yard reception from David Moore. The Rebels also have some good news that their quarterback Hayden Federico will be back with the team for their season opener. Defensively, Cole Michael Stephens earned MVP honors for the Rebels.

For the second year in a row, the Bearcats were victorious over the Rebels to start off the season in the Bayou Jamboree.

Ruston will begin their regular season next week against Warren Easton at home while the Todd Garvin era at West Monroe will begin against Sterlington next week.

Stats:

W. Monroe Rebels 2023 VS Ruston Bearcats 2023 at Rebel Stadium on 08/25/2023
Team W. Monroe Rebels 2023  Ruston Bearcats 2023 
Points Scored014
First Downs510
By Rush/Pass/Penalty1/2/27/2/1
3rd Downs Made/Att/Eff0/7/01/5/20
4th Downs Made/Att/Eff0/1/01/1/100
Total Yards/Avg Per Play76/2.6230/7.7
Total Yards Rushing23183
Rushing Att/Avg13/1.823/8.0
Total Yards Passing5672
Pass Att/Comp/Int15/5/06/2/0
Average Yards Per Pass3.712.0
Punts/Avg5/36.03/33.0
Punt Returns/Yds/Avg1/2/24/38/10
Punts Blocked00
Kickoff Returns/Yds/Avg2/14/71/22/22
Fumbles/Lost0/01/1
Total Turnovers01
Penalties/Yards1/153/30
Sacks/Yards1/101/3
Touchdowns02
TDs Rush/Pass0/02/0
Field Goal Att/Made0/00/0
Time Of Possession23:4512:15
Individual Stats for Ruston Bearcats 2023
NoPasserAttComCom%IntYdsLngTDsYPPYPC  QBR
3 Josh Brantley6233.307256012.036.0  79.9
NoRusherAttYdsLostNetLongTDs  Avg
0 Jordan Hayes874074392  9.2
3 Josh Brantley332032190  10.7
26 Dylone Brooks1079277340  7.7
8 Logan Malone100000  0.0
22 Jadon Mayfield100000  0.0
  TEAM TOTALS231852183392  8.0
NoReceiverRecYdsLongTDs  Avg
10 Lander Smith272560  36.0
NoPunterPuntsYdsLongAvgTBs20  Blkd
99 Will Fendley3993833.001   0
NoFG KickerFG AttGdLongBlkdFG%EPAttGdBlkd  EP%
99 Will Fendley00000.0110  100.0
43 Jack Elliot00000.0110  100.0
  TEAM TOTALS00000.0220  100.0
NoReturnerP RetsYdsLongAvgTDsK RetsYdsLongAvg  TDs
5 Nate Johnson438149.500000.0   0
0 Jordan Hayes0000.001222222.0   0
  TEAM TOTALS438149.501222222.0   0
NoDefenderTaTPGAsSaSPGIntITDPBFRBPBFG
21 Zheric Hill44.0011.0000000
4 Jacoryian Crowe55.0000.0000000
5 Nate Johnson11.0000.0000000
94 Peyton Bell22.0000.0000000
9 Fabian Stringfellow22.0000.0000000
22 Jadon Mayfield11.0000.0000000
1 Aidan Anding11.0000.0000000
63 Ka’Varion Key11.0000.0000000
27 Jeremiah Freeman11.0000.0000000
7 Semaj Jones11.0000.0000000
  TEAM TOTALS1919.0011.0000000
Individual Stats for W. Monroe Rebels 2023
NoPasserAttComCom%IntYdsLngTDsYPPYPC  QBR
6 Ryder Dejean10440.00433104.310.8  53.3
1 Cayden Cunningham300.000000.00.0  39.6
10 Luke Vallery2150.00131306.513.0  70.8
  TEAM TOTALS15533.30563103.711.2  45.4
NoRusherAttYdsLostNetLongTDs  Avg
26 Christian Ponti786230  0.3
8 Terrance Allen110110  1.0
22 Kedrian McNeil323716230  5.3
1 Cayden Cunningham160660  6.0
7 David Moore102-200  -2.0
  TEAM TOTALS13381523230  1.8
NoReceiverRecYdsLongTDs  Avg
7 David Moore239310  19.5
4 Trez Davis1330  3.0
11 Grant Edmondson214130  7.0
  TEAM TOTALS556310  11.2
NoPunterPuntsYdsLongAvgTBs20  Blkd
31 Daniel Lane51804036.001   0
NoFG KickerFG AttGdLongBlkdFG%EPAttGdBlkd  EP%
NoReturnerP RetsYdsLongAvgTDsK RetsYdsLongAvg  TDs
7 David Moore1222.000000.0   0
16 Lukas Dupriest0000.001000.0   0
11 Grant Edmondson0000.001141414.0   0
  TEAM TOTALS1222.00214147.0   0
NoDefenderTaTPGAsSaSPGIntITDPBFRBPBFG
28 J.Q. Turner55.0000.0000000
18 Jase Adams22.0000.0000000
1 Cayden Cunningham11.0000.0000000
47 Smoltz Lilly22.0000.0000000
6 Sam Regan66.0000.0000000
4 Trez Davis44.0000.0000000
5 Caden Willis11.0000.0000000
22 Kedrian McNeil11.0000.0000000
12 Brycen Federico11.0000.0000100
42 Cole-Michael Stephen33.0000.0000000
  TEAM TOTALS2626.0000.0000100
TeamQ1Q2Q3Q4OTFinal
Ruston Bearcats 20237070014
W. Monroe Rebels 2023000000

TeamPlaysYardsDescription
Ruston Bearcats 2023885at 4:30 1st Q, V, 1st D & 10, Jordan Hayes rushes for 39 for a TD
Ruston Bearcats 2023n/an/a1st Q, V, Will Fendley makes extra point
Ruston Bearcats 2023755at 2:03 3rd Q, V, 2nd D & 10, Jordan Hayes rushes for 12 for a TD
Ruston Bearcats 2023n/an/a3rd Q, V, Jack Elliot makes extra point