SHREVEPORT – The North Webster Knights won just the way they like to against Booker T. Washington Friday night.
Pounding the ball with seniors Jalen Smith and Devin White, who got some help from the emerging T.J. Hawthorne, the Knights punished the Lions 48-28 to begin district play.
“I thought we played pretty good,” Knights head coach John Ware said. “We took control of the line of scrimmage. We didn’t jump out to a huge lead, but we did our thing and played pretty good.”
The Knights allowed the Lions to score 28 points, but only 13 of those came against the North Webster starters who played well by Ware’s estimation.
“One score was off a pick six,” Ware said. “The other came on our second team guys. Booker T. had some athletes, so to give up just 13 on our first team, we’ll take that everyday.”
On offense it was a dominating performance up front for the Knights. Jalen Smith got loose for the second straight week, finishing with 169 yards on the ground. With Smith and Hawthorne emerging as complements to Devin White, North Webster is becoming a dangerous offensive team.
“Jalen Smith is starting to play really well,” Ware said. “Devin does his thing like always, plus T.J. Hawthorne has come in and played very well the past two weeks. It makes a big difference when you have three backs who can get it done. You start trying to focus on one and the other will get you.”
The win moves North Webster to 4-2 overall and 1-0 in district ahead of next week’s showdown with Loyola.
“We wanted to establish the tone,” Ware said. “We needed this start. The district championship is a big goal of ours.”
Smith’s 169 yards and three scores led the offense, followed by White with 122 yards and two scores. Hawthorne added 42 yards rushing and 67 receiving with a score in each category, and Wesley Franklin had one catch for 30 yards. Cameron Huff finished four of eight passing for 115 yards and one touchdown.