Leopards suffocate North Lamar, 22-0
PARIS, Texas — LibertyEylau didn’t make North Lamar’s Senior Night and Homecoming Night memorable.
The Leopards blanked the Panthers, 22-0, at R.L. Maddox Stadium on the North Lamar campus in Paris.
“We were shooting to be 1-0 in district,” Liberty-Eylau head coach Dewaski Davis said. “We’ve been working all summer to be in this position. We just need to keep pushing forward and everything else will take care of itself.”
It was the District 8-4A opener for both teams. Overall Liberty-Eylau is 4-2 and North Lamar 0-4.
Steven Turner intercepted a Panther pass in the fourth quarter with 10 minutes left in the game. Turner’s turnover was the fourth interception for the Leopards defense for the night.
Liberty-Eylau was able to control the game in the final quarter, once the Leopards held a three-score cushion.
Damian Henderson plunged into the end zone for L-E on the Leopards’ second possession of the second half. Henderson finished the game with 127 yards on 15 carries and two touchdowns.
The Leopards converted the extra-point attempt, giving the Leopards a 14-0 advantage midway through the third quarter.
Keeunue Shepherd intercepted a North Lamar pass in the third period, stopping the Panther drive on the Leopards’ 25-yard line.
Henderson scored his second touchdown of the quarter on the following possession, on a 3-yard dive.
“Damian makes us go,” Davis said. “He spearheads our offense. He also has been picking up the young guys making sure everyone knows what they’re doing. He’s doing a great job for us.”
The Panthers halted the Leopards’ scoring opportunity to open the second quarter, recovering a fumble on the 19-yard line with about 8 minutes left before halftime.
Liberty-Eylau lost all three of its fumbles in the first half.
North Lamar succeeded with its game plan of possession football in the first half.
By limiting the Leopards offensive touches and calling the Panthers’ plays as the clock dwindled down, North Lamar was able to keep the contest within arms reach the first half.
“We told the guys not to panic at halftime,” Davis said. “We told the guys we’re right where we need to be. I told them we just had to take care of business, and the kids responded well.”
The Leopards jumped on the scoreboard first after
Marshad Handy picked off a Panther pass sprinted 66 yards for a touchdown with 7:33 left in the opening period.
Neither school could get any offense going most of the first quarter.
Handy picked his second pass off of the quarter with 3:12 remaining in the period. Handy is the third Leopard this season to have multiple interceptions in a game.
Liberty-Eylau is back home next Friday, hosting Spring Hill (Longview) for Homecoming.