Byrd vs Airline Friday On KWKH

Charlie Cavell

REGULAR SEASON FINALE
The No. 3 ranked Byrd Yellow Jackets will square off against the Airline Vikings in the 2011 regular season finale. Kickoff for the District 1-5A clash is set for 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4 at Lee Hedges Stadium.

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A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE TEAMS
The Yellow Jackets own an 8-0 record and a 4-0 record in District 1-5A after last Thursday’s 35-10 win over the Captain Shreve Gators. Byrd has clinched at least a tie for the district title, the Jackets first since 2002.
The Airline Vikings own a 6-3 overall record and a 3-1 District 1- 5A record following last week’s 42-16 win over the Southwood Cowboys. Airline can share the district title with a win over Byrd.

RECENT RESULTS
Despite five turnovers, the Byrd Yellow Jackets defeated archrival Captain Shreve 35-10 last Thursday night. Byrd’s “Purple Swarm” defense limited Shreve to 133 yards of total offense and one touchdown with 11 seconds left in the game. The Airline Vikings amassed 569 yards of offense in their 42-16 win over the Southwood Cowboys last Friday. Calvin Moody rolled up 316 all-purpose yards, including 237 on the ground.

THE SERIES
This will be the 35th meeting between Byrd and Airline in a series that began in 1964 with a 27-6 Byrd win. The Yellow Jackets hold a 18-16 edge in the series after last year’s 30-13 win over the Vikings. These two schools have played every year since 1991, including once in the playoffs. In those 21 games, Byrd holds a 13 -8 advantage. The Yellow Jackets have won seven straight games over the Vikings.

THE COACHES
Mike Suggs is in his 14th season as the head coach at C.E. Byrd. Suggs owns a 91-57 (.613) record as the top Jacket. He is the school’s all-time winningest coach with 91 victories. Suggs was the Class 5A Coach of Year and the District 2-5A Coach of the Year in 2002. Suggs was an All-State end for the Southwood Cowboys in 1980 before taking his talents on to Northeast Louisiana University where he played wide receiver for the Indians.

He served as a graduate assistant coach with the Indians’ 1987 National Championship team. After a two-year stint at Southwood, he came to Byrd in 1990. In 1998, Suggs replaced Alan Carter to become the 13th head coach in Byrd history. Suggs and his wife Sandy have a daughter Cali, a senior cheerleader at Byrd, and a son Andrew, who is an eighth grader at Caddo Middle Magnet. Captain Shreve is coached by Richard Lary, who is in his third season at the helm of the Gators’ football program. Lary owns a 9-12 record in his two seasons at Shreve. He guided the Gators to the playoffs in his first year. Lary has coached at Byrd, Woodlawn and Huntington.

C.E. Byrd High School Facts
Located: Shreveport, Louisiana
Founded: 1925
Enrollment: 2,230
Nickname: Yellow Jackets
Colors: Purple and Gold
District: 1-5A
Stadium: Lee Hedges Stadium
Principal: Gerald Badgley

Coaching Staff
Head Coach/Off. Coordinator: Mike Suggs
Running backs: James Wilkerson
Off. Line: Craig Harris
Wide Receivers: Frank Wade
Def. Coordinator/LBs: Stacy Ballew
Defensive Line: Lindsey Bruno
Safeties: Jason Pope
Corner Backs: Eric Evans
Freshman: Chad Lewis, Derrick Murray,
James Bradford, James Opie

Yellow Jackets Team Facts
2010 Record .................................. 6-5, 4-3
Off. Starters Returning ............................. 7
Def. Starters Returning ............................ 7
Offensive Formation ........... Multiple Option
Defensive Formation .......................... 4-2-5
2011 Schedule and Results
9/1 vs. West Monroe ............... W, 30-23
9/10 vs. Marshall, TX ................ W, 48-23
9/16 at Fair Park .......................... W, 63-8
9/23 at Ruston ........................... W, 42-14
10/7 vs. *Haughton (HC) ............. W, 48-7
10/14 at *Parkway ....................... W, 52-21
10/20 at *Southwood ..................... W, 49-8
10/27 vs. *Captain Shreve ........... W, 35-10
11/4 vs. *Airline .................................. 0-0
11/11 Bi-district .................................... 0-0