10 Sterlington vs. Amite eye-catchers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sterlington made the long trip south to Amite for a matchup of two of Louisiana's top Class 3A programs that provided a bit of a playoff rehearsal.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>And the Panthers' ball-control rushing attack and stingy defense showed up well for the occasion to overcome an early deficit and lead the bulk of an eventual 24-18 victory despite a pair of explosive Warriors strikes late to keep on their heels.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOe9_x_Zcrg","type":"video","providerNameSlug":"youtube","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOe9_x_Zcrg </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Marcus Briggs | 6-3, 185 WR/DB | Amite (2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The tall, long athlete made plays on both sides of the ball from his receiver and safety roles, including a nice catch and run on the team's opening touchdown drive as he snatched in stride a ball thrown over his head and kept running for additional yardage.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Brandon Coleman | WR | Amite (2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Warriors had trouble sustaining consistent offense against a Sterlington team allowing less than nine points per contest entering the week. But Coleman was among the explosive weapons that managed to get loose for long fourth-quarter scores — his a 91-yarder — to keep Amite on the Panthers' heels late. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1221240' first='Dylan' last='Downs'] | 5-10, 155 QB/ATH | Sterlington (2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The junior quarterback — also a standout defensive back for the team, along with younger brother Devyn (2027) — efficiently led the Panthers' ground attack that ate huge chunks of clock in some key moments and provided some of the team's bigger gains on a couple plays when he opted to keep and bounce outside, plus a well-timed strike through the air to open the fourth quarter. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVPqT4BFjGQ","type":"video","providerNameSlug":"youtube","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVPqT4BFjGQ </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1221214' first='Gaven' last='Evans'] | 5-11, 170 RB/LB | Sterlington (2025)</strong> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The physical junior back had a few of the Panthers' biggest runs of the contest, beginning with one of their biggest gains between the tackles early in the second quarter to get the team to the red zone and including a pair of touchdowns, one to cap that drive and another in the fourth to help seal the win. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Braylon Jackson | 5-9, 155 WR | Amite (2024) </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The senior receiver would have to be the Warriors' top performer on offense with two of the team's three scores, working his way open in the end zone from just outside the red zone to cap the opening drive and than dashing 70 yards over the top of the defense in the fourth quarter to keep Amite in the contest.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Byron Jennings | 6-0, 210 DL/LB | Amite (2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Warriors senior, a playmaker on the edge, was among the team's top defensive standouts with a big tackle for loss in the second quarter on which he blew up a blocker and the running back as a notable highlight among his disruptive plays at and behind the line. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1204712' first='Jackson' last='King'] | 5-11, 200 LB | Sterlington (2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Panthers' physical senior linebacker was a leader for the team's stout defensive effort that saw several players step up with timely plays. King's defensive highlight came on an explosive burst into the backfield early in the fourth quarter to record a sack before Amite's play had any chance to develop. He also rushed for a key two-point conversion in the fourth.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSZcxxQfSmU","type":"video","providerNameSlug":"youtube","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSZcxxQfSmU </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1221224' first='Aiden' last='Parker'] | 6-1, 170 K | Sterlington (2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Panthers' junior kicker proved himself a different maker with a second-quarter extra point and a 30-yard field goal late in the third quarter that were at the time the separating points in a 10-6 advantage. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Nathan White | 5-8, 140 WR | Sterlington (2024) </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Sterlington offense was its typical ground-oriented self with enough success rushing the football to stick to it the bulk of the night. But the Panthers took their big shot to open the fourth quarter, and the junior receiver made sure to capitalize with a diving catch in the end zone that felt like a bit of a dagger at the time after the team and churned out eight minutes on its previous possession.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Skylar Zanders | 6-3, 190 LB | Amite (2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Warriors' senior linebacker was another of their standouts along with Jennings on defense with his length and quickness at and behind the line of scrimmage.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->