Byrd Yellow Jackets vs Airline Vikings in District 1-5A Opener

This is the fourth consecutive Thursday game for the Byrd Yellow Jackets. Kick-off is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 10 at 7 p.m. at Airline Stadium. The game is being broadcasted on 1130 The Tiger.

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A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE TEAMS

The Byrd Yellow Jackets return 12 starters (4 O, 7 D, 1 ST) from last year’s team that finished the season with an 8-3 record and a share of the District 1-5A title. The Yellow Jackets moved to 5-0 on the season with a 55-21 win over the Lakeshore Titans last Thursday in Mandeville. The Airline Vikings posted a 10-3 record in 2012 and shared the District 1-5A title with Byrd and Parkway. Airline returns seven starters (2 O, 5 D) from last year’s quarterfinal team. The Vikings own a 2-3 record after losing 30-20 to Neville last Friday.

RECENT RESULTS

The Byrd Yellow Jackets erupted for 34 first-half points to lead the Lakeshore Titans 34-14 at halftime. The Jackets would add three more touchdowns in the second half to cruise to a 55-21 win over the Titans. Last Friday, the Airline Vikings lost 30-20 to the top-ranked Class 4A Neville Tigers.

THE SERIES

This will be the 38th meeting between Byrd and Airline in a series that began in 1964 with a 27-6 Byrd win. Byrd holds a 21-16 edge in the series, including the Jackets current 10-game winning streak over the Vikings. These two schools have played every year since 1991, including twice in 2008 and 2011. In those 24 games, the Yellow Jackets hold a 16-8 advantage. Byrd captured a thrilling 31-30 last second win over Airline in last year’s regular season finale.

THE COACHES

Mike Suggs is in his 16th season as the head coach at C.E. Byrd. Suggs, who is the school’s all-time winningest coach, owns a 109-61 (.641) record as the top Jacket. Suggs was the Class 5A Coach of Year and the District 1-5A Coach of the Year in 2011. Suggs was an All-State end for the Southwood Cowboys in 1980 before taking his talents on to Northeast Louisiana University. After two years of coach-ing 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, who is at ULM, and a son Andrew, who is a punter at Byrd.

Airline is coached by Bo Meeks, who is in his third season at the helm of the Vi-kings’ football program. Meeks entered this season with a 50-24 overall coaching record. He came to Airline after two years at Calvary Baptist Academy where he posted a 19-6 mark. Meeks also spent two seasons at Mangham where he went 14-10