Thankful for this opportunity pic.twitter.com/AoPBRG57Wm
— Airline Vikings Football (@ahsvikes) November 28, 2024
The numbers do not lie.
Airline was one of the highest scoring teams and arguably the most potent offensive team in Louisiana in 2024.
That carried the Vikings to an 11-0 start, including a playoff win over Westgate. Airline fell to Destrehan in the Division I Non-Select quarterfinals despite scoring 41 points.
Airline scored 35 or more points in all 12 games last season.
The Vikings averaged 52.8 points per game, scoring 40 or more points in 11 of their 12 games, an astonishing statistic.
The problem was Airline gave up an average of 38.5 points per game, yielding 40 more points six times.
Airline outscored everyone until its final game.
Head Coach Justin Scogin enters his fourth year.
Scogin has done an outstanding job, leading Airline to a 28-7 record.
“Last year, we had a very good team with 34 seniors,” Scogin said. “We got a chance to play a lot of young guys late in the season and in the playoffs due to injuries. A lot of those got valuable reps against Destrehan, when we played four sophomores. That will help us this year.”
Despite many lost to graduation, the Vikings remain an outstanding offensive team heading into the 2025 season.
The question is whether Airline can become competent enough defensively to have a chance to advance further in the playoffs.
The offense will be led by senior wide receiver Kenny Darby (6-1, 180). An LSU commit, Darby had 100 catches for 1,767 yards and 24 touchdowns last season. He is a superb wide receiver.
“There is nothing Kenny cannot do,” Scogin said. “He’s the most special kid with the ball I’ve ever seen. I’ve coached against Justin Jefferson and Terrace Marshall. As far as his mentality, when you mix his mentality and ability, Darby is the best I’ve ever coached.”
David Allen (5-9, 180) returns as well after a junior season when he rushed 115 times for 898 yards and 11 touchdowns and caught 32 passes for 351 yards and six touchdowns. He is joined by junior Matt Moore (5-9, 155), who had nine carries for 23 yards in 2024.
“This is the first time we’ve had legitimate depth at running back,” Scogin said. Phoenix Padeway will provide a punch for us and Moore has played. Chris Hart is another that can play. Tobias Williams is a senior. We have five or six who can make plays for us and we have not had that before.”
Airline must replace a terrific quarterback in Ben Taylor, who threw for 4,357 yards and 47 touchdowns and just six interceptions last season while rushing for nine additional scores.
The new quarterback is junior Chase Williams (5-10, 165).
“Chase has had two years to prepare,” Scogin said. “He started in freshman and junior varsity football and had success. He’s a little further now than I thought he would be. He loves playing football and enjoys being the starter at Airline. He is driven to be a very productive player.”
The other wide receivers include juniors Terence Hays (5-11, 170), Preston Hughes (6-0, 165) and Justin Woodfork (6-0, 195). Hays had three catches for 62 yards and a score last year while Woodford had two receptions.
Up front, starters include seniors JD Yates (5-10, 225) at center and Xhrystian Nelson (6-0, 250) at tackle, along with junior tackle Dylan Carmouche (6-1, 240) and guards Joseph Thrash (5-10, 240) and Carl Hernandez (5-10, 225).
“We return Yates and feel good about him,” Scogin said. “We are very excited about the other four guys. They are getting accustomed to the feel of the game and the intricacies of the offense. I think they will be one of the best groups we’ve had.”
The defense returns five starters.
Up front, senior Cole Shepherd (5-10, 215) is back and he is flanked by juniors Josh Papion (6-0, 205) and JaMiran Davis (5-10, 270).
A pair of linebackers return in seniors Braylyn Jackson (6-0, 220) and Keadre Garner (6-1, 220). Garner was in on 66 tackles, including eight for loss with four sacks while Jackson led the team in tackles with 105, including seven for loss in 2024.
The other starters are juniors Kyren Taylor (5-8, 185) and Abram Coats (5-10, 185).
Two starters are back in the secondary including junior cornerback Zeus Arthur (5-9, 170), who was in on 40 tackles, and senior free safety Jeremiah Epps (5-8, 180), who had 91 stops last year.
The other corner is senior Jaylen Bradley (6-1, 175) while the weak safety is junior Pierre Watson (5-10, 180).
“I love our linebackers and our free safety, Scogin said. “We have a good corner as well in Bradley. Arthur returns as a starter. Jackson and Garner are as good as I’ve coached. They are big and can run. Epps is our team leader at safety.”
Senior Max Tinkis (5-11, 200) and junior Prenay Patel (5-8, 165) will handle kicking and punting duties while the return men are Darby, Allen and Arthur.
The schedule opens at home against Barbe before a District 1-5A game at Benton. A challenging road game at Union Parish follows.
“Barbe is a program with a huge tradition,” Scogin said. “They are back and have a great staff and good athletes and are tough. I love playing Union Parish. Joe Spatafora is one of the best coaches in Louisiana. They will challenge you physically.”
District play resumes at Evangel Christian and at home against Captain Shreve. After a road game at Parkway, the Vikings host Haughton. A road game at Natchitoches Central is next before the Vikings close at home against Byrd and Huntington.
“I think our league, from top to bottom, is the toughest in the state,” Scogin said. “There is no week where we get a break. Everyone can beat us. That’s the fun part and the part that makes you anxious. You have to be sharp every week. We have some of the best quarterbacks anywhere.”
Airline will score and will win several games again in 2024. Its chances of advancing further in the postseason hinge on the development of Williams at quarterback and on the quest for significant improvement defensively.
“We have to be better at times on defense,” Scogin said. “To go deep in the playoffs, you need luck and need to remain healthy. You have to make plays. We want to get past the quarterfinals. I feel we can do so. We’re as deep and talented as last year.”
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