Playoff Top Performers: Woodlawn (BR) vs. Natchitoches Central

A muddy overtime battle spoiled the 2020 playoff return of Woodlawn (Baton Rouge) after back-to-back postseason misses. Back again this year, the Panthers made sure to leave little question by midway through their opening-round game and capitalize on their second straight year hosting after not had a home playoff game since 2014. Star quarterback [player_tooltip player_id="138486" first="Rickie" last="Collins"] and company shook back from an early deficit to Natchitoches Central to roll away, 42-14. Here were a handful of the notable top performers in the program’s first postseason victory since 2010. <strong>Clayton Adams (2023)</strong> <strong>5-9, 170 ATH</strong> The Panthers’ deep receiving corps for Collins grants the opportunity for a different face to lead the charge on any given night. And in the postseason opener, the speed and quickness of the smallest of the bunch was on display. Adams, a versatile weapon on offense and in the return game, took a quick screen in the first and third quarters to the end zone at critical moments. The first, a winding 51-yard gain, scored his team’s first points and helped answer an 7-0 deficit, and the next helped stretch a 21-14 lead to 28-14 and began Woodlawn’s pull away from the Chiefs. <strong>Devin Boyd (2023)</strong> <strong>6-0, 250 DL</strong> The big defensive tackle’s primary responsibility for the night was to plug gaps and contain the Natchitoches Central rushing attack led by Caylin Demars and Chris Howard. But Boyd was also quick to the backfield all the way near the sideline to scoop a third-quarter fumble and rumble 24 yard to the end zone to extend a 28-14 lead to 35-14 and give Woodlawn a stranglehold on the contest. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="138486" first="Rickie" last="Collins"] (2023)</strong> <strong>6-3, 185 QB</strong> The Purdue-committed junior passer with a slew of Power Five offers is the clear leader and star and of the team. And even in games where opposing defenses, like the Chiefs, are able disrupt the Panthers’ attack with heavy and quick pressure, Collins manages to stick with his and his coaches’ plan and to still make plays when opportunities finally do present themselves. Adams’ playmaking ability in the screen game was huge to capitalize on quicker-hitting options, but Collins also managed to break through from some plays deep downfield, including a 53-yard strike to [player_tooltip player_id="136735" first="Kyle" last="Jones"] for Woodlawn’s second score to help go back ahead, 15-14, and a 99-yard drive before halftime to extend that margin to 21-14. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="136799" first="Amani" last="Givens"] (2022)</strong> <strong>5-8, 195 RB </strong> The senior running back has come on strong to finish out his high school career. Givens rushed 22 times for 161 yards and three touchdowns at the end of the regular season against a previously dominant Catholic (Baton Rouge) team expected to roll undefeated to a state championship. And he provided a similar presence to open the postseason, including a touchdown and a two-point conversion, and had Natchitoches Central defenders calling him one of the best backs they’d seen after the matchup. <strong>Ketrick Owens (2022) </strong> <strong>5-10, 185 DB</strong> Along with Collins, junior cornerback [player_tooltip player_id="138307" first="Jordan" last="Matthews"] is the Panthers’ other highest-profile college prospect, and Dezaray Delmore Jr. and Marcus Stewart Jr. have also been among the defensive leaders throughout the season. But yet another defensive back stepped up with one of the night’s biggest plays against Natchitoches Central, as the senior safety swooped toward the sideline and snatched a ricocheting ball for an interception to help shut down the Chiefs’ comeback attempt and preserve a 28-14 lead.