The Caddo Bruins (7-2) not only beat the dignity out of the Central High Broncos 58-22, they clinched themselves a playoff spot. Quarterback Nate Owens led the Bruins past the Broncos with a three touchdown pass performance Friday night.

“I was please with the game, especially the defense. The Broncos have a good team, there not weak. They played Alex within four points, we knew they were capable of playing a good game,” said Caddo head coach Randy Hitsman, “We just had to come out and do our jobs.”

The Bruins went to work early and took a 16-8 led in the first quarter. Ty Miller started things off with a 30-yard touchdown run. With 4:05 left in the first quarter, the Bruins struck again when Owens hit Miller on a quick hitch that turned into a 48-yard touchdown.

“This is the one we had to have to make the playoffs. We just came out with the idea that we had to take care of business and we did,” Hitsman said.

Caddo didn’t let their foot off the collective throats of the Broncos and continued to score at will.

At the beginning of the second quarter, it took the Bruins only 1:55 to score another touchdown. With Owens under pressure, he connected with Dillon Proctor for a 13-yard touchdown pass that expanded their led to 22-8.

After a fumbled punt snap by the Broncos, Caddo took over at Central High’s 8-yard line and quickly struck when Owens hit Proctor again for another touchdown. The Bruins began to pull away from the Broncos and led 28-8.

“I’m proud of my guys; it was a great way to go out at home. This was a big game; it ensured us going to the playoffs.” said Owens.

The Bruins struck like lighting again when Roger Behrens took the hand-off from Owens and went 61-yards to the house. The game was really over at half-time when Owens found Behrens for a 21-yard touchdown. The Bruins led 42-8 and went on to win 58-22.

“There’s a difference between confidence and being cocky, confidence wins.” said Hitsman.

That’s the attitude that Hitsman conveys to the team as he prepare them for their last game of the season before the playoffs. And Owens heeds his coach’s approach.

“We don’t usually overlook any team, no matter how good they are. There is a game we have to focus on next week, we still have to prepare like it’s any other game and we will perform like we need to.” said Owens.

Caddo closes out the regular season on the road at Macomb.

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VLA 33, Thackerville 14

THACKERVILLE — The ball-hawking Victory Life Eagles may have possibly stolen a playoff spot from Thackerville with a 33-14 win on the road Friday night. The Eagles led just 6-0 at the half, but continued to create havoc on the way three interceptions and a defensive touchdown with a fumble recovery for a touchdown to get things rolling in the third quarter.

The Eagles will have to have some help around the district, but could possibly finish as high as third in C-2. Dayton Booth led the effort with multiple tackles for loss.

“Dayton, really, had his best defensive game ever,” said VLA coach Tim Wigington. “He was good in short coverage and then coming off the end and getting tackles in the backfield. He would come off two or three blockers. They finally quit running it to his side. Taylor Reeves did good up the middle, and Jake Nichols, made some killer hits.”

The Eagles opened with a passing touchdown in the first quarter, but failed to get in the conversion. After a scoreless second quarter, Nichols connected on another touchdown pass, before going up 18-0 with a fumble recovery in the end zone.

Thackerville finally answered with a 27-yard touchdown run by Aaron Vondrack in the third quarter. Nichols added another TD pass, and Shelby Stiles added his second touchdown of the game before Thackerville closed out the scoring with a late touchdown.

“It was our defense that came through and held them,” said Wigington. “The first half, Thackerville played a pretty deep zone any time we were spread out, so we move things around and finally started hitting some passes. In the fourth quarter, we mainly just ran it out.”

VLA ran for 172 yards on 25 carries, and finished with just 78 passing yards. Thackerville managed 214 rushing yards on 57 carries and passed for just six yards. Vondrak led Thackerville with 131 yards on 27 carries.

“(Thackerville) didn’t pass a whole lot, their starting quarterback was out, but we had really good coverage.”

Of course the Eagles have been in that same boat, missing key players in some pivotal district games.

“Football’s a game of attrition,” said Wigington. “If you can make it to the field with a full, healthy team, you’re doing good.”