Eye-catchers from Live Oak vs. Denham Springs

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Denham Springs marched right down its home field Thursday for a opening touchdown to its District 5-5A, Livingston Parish and Highway 16 rivalry with nearby Live Oak.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>But the visiting Eagles (2-4, 1-2) allowed the Yellow Jackets (4-2, 1-1) little else from there, riding a lights-out defensive performance to a 21-6 victory, its second straight in the series and fifth in the past seven years. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's a look at notes on nine of the standouts from the contest. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1315770' first='Gabriel' last='Harvey'] — 6-3, 220 DL — Live Oak (2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1336857' first='Jacob' last='Cowart'] — 6-4, 220 DL — Live Oak (2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Eagles' bookend senior defensive ends were exceptional at both helping set the edge and contain the Yellow Jackets' rushing attack and getting upfield in their pass rush, generating pressure and getting their hands in passing lanes. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='513986' first='Lane' last='Billings'] — 6-2, 195 LB — Live Oak (2027)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The sophomore felt like the most active and disruptive player on the field Thursday with a long highlight reel to help headline a strong performance overall by the Live Oak linebackers with Wyatt Tynes and Trey Dorsey also making plays behind the line. Billings appeared to live in the backfield much of the night, but also look comfortable and smooth when called upon to drop back into space.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Brody Welch — 5-11, 170 DB — Live Oak (2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Welch provided the Eagles a much-needed spark in the final minute of the first quarter, snatching an overthrown ball for an interception and dashing his way up the sideline for their first points. Live Oak seemed to feed off the early highlight.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='934591' first='Kingston' last='Johnson'] — 6-0, 180 QB — Live Oak (2027)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Live Oak couldn't get into much rhythm early as Johnson found himself consistently scrambling away from pressure and having trouble finding any targets open, but his elusiveness gradually started to provide a couple gains on the ground until he and his receivers could start connecting with a little more consistency. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1612714' first='Cash' last='Davis'] — 5-9, 145 ATH — Live Oak (2027)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Johnson's fellow sophomore came up with two of the Eagles' biggest offensive plays on quick throws to the outside on which he broke tackles and got upfield for a long third-down conversion late in the third quarter to help set up a field goal and then in the fourth quarter to stretch the lead to its final margin.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1372155' first='Calvin' last='Ursin'] — 6-2, 190 WR/DB — Live Oak (2028)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In just a couple opportunities, the talented freshman provided a highlight on each side of the ball with a quick pounce on a fumble late in the second quarter to help set up a field goal and then a downfield catch in the fourth. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1644688' first='Brek' last='Schultz'] — 5-9, 170 K/P — Live Oak (2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Eagles' senior specialist joked that he felt like Pat McAfee as he celebrated a late punt out of bounds inside the 5-yard line to further dig tighten the grip on the Yellow Jackets. But he was a major impact player for Live Oak with his 2-for-2 field-goal and 1-for-1 extra-point kicking for enough points alone for the win, plus his kickoffs into the end zone and booming punts to help control field position. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='144906' first='Jerry' last='Horne'] — 6-2, 205 QB — Denham Springs (2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Thursday proving to be largely a struggle for the Yellow Jackets was particularly surprising after the success of Horne and company on the opening drive, including the quarterback powering through contact for about 10 yards for the score to cap the march.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->