Photograph: Northwest running back Javian Reese moves forward for yardage. (Photograph by Susan Angelle Photography)
BOBBY ARDOIN
Editor/Consulting Writer
Northwest High is continuing to move forward into a dominant position among the challengers in District 4-3A.
The Raiders took another step towards that achievement Friday night by winning an exciting 37-35 overtime contest played at Iota and remaining tied for first place with Church Point.
Northwest (4-2) remained undefeated after two league games, while Iota (3-3) now has one league defeat.
“This (victory) puts us in the driver’s seat along with Church Point. The win over Iota is really big, because now after (next Friday night) Church Point and Iota still have to play,” said Northwest head football coach Chris Edwards.
Church Point, which visits Northwest this Friday night, is also undefeated in 4-3A. The Bears started the season 0-3, but have won the last three games.
Edwards said the Iota matchup featured the Bulldogs’ passing offense against a Northwest rushing attack led by senior running back Javian Reese who ran for 244 and scored four times on the ground.
“That was the game plan, give (Reese) the ball and put him behind our offensive line. I told him that for the next two games we are going to ride him and then after that maybe we can give him a rest,” said Edwards.
Northwest kept the offense moving with the rushing game, as the Raiders converted on 10 of 14 third down situations.
The performance by Reese was complemented by Raiders’ running back Craig Malveaux, who gained 119, as Northwest finished with 388 total rushing yards.
Iota countered with an offensive show that featured the passing of quarterback Petyon Renfro, who threw for 235 and five touchdowns. Renfro completed 18 of 29 attempts.
“We expected Iota to do a lot of throwing. (Renfro) is such a good quarterback and an accurate thrower. We knew that our secondary would have to play well,” Edward said.
Regulation ended in a 29-point tie.
“Reese scored on the first play of overtime (10 yards) and he ran it in for the two points. Iota had it next and scored (on a 10-yard Austin Hebert pass from Renfro). They didn’t make their conversion,” Edwards added.
The Raiders grabbed a 14-0 first quarter lead on a 24-yard Malveaux run and another of 30 yards by Reese.
Iota made it a one-score game by the end of the period, as Renfro completed a 58-yard throw.
The Bulldogs and Northwest matched touchdowns in the third quarter.
Both teams scored twice, as Renfro threw to Hebert for 16 and then completed another TD toss (22 yards).
Reese scored twice during the touchdown trade between the teams on runs of 10 and 1-yard.
The 29-21 Northwest lead was sustained until Renfro tossed his fourth regulation touchdown pass. A two-point conversion tied the score.
