LSU Confident Kenny Darby Leads Westgate Airline to LHSAA Quarterfinals

Up until the start of LHSAA Division I playoff play in the second round on Friday, visitors to Westgate were under the impression that they could knock off the second-seeded Airline at home.

The Tigers walked around MD Ray Field like they owned the place, but that didn’t last long. After the Vikings mounted an 80-yard scoring drive on their first possession, the rout began and Westgate ultimately left Bossier City with a 42-16 win.

The architects of this devastation were Northwestern’s Ben Taylor at quarterback and LSU’s Kenny Darby at wide receiver. Westgate thought that covering the speedy Darby with two guys would slow him down. But Darby laughed off the coverage, catching seven passes for 138 yards and a touchdown while picking up three pass interference penalties to help Airline (11-0) past the Tigers (8-3).

“When our other receiver (Jarvis Davis) got hurt, I had to step up and be a leader,” Darby said. “We got into the end zone every time and won the game. I have to give the ball to my quarterback, he put the ball in my hands.”

Darby had one spectacular try in the second quarter that brought the Airways faithful to their feet and cemented a 21-0 half-time lead.

“Kenny Darby is a game changer. He does everything you ask of him,” Airline coach Justin Scogin said. “He’s a big player, obviously committed to LSU. He can take control of the game and that’s what we needed from him. The other guys stepped up too, and it was very interesting.”

Taylor was just Ben Taylor. He controlled the game from his spot behind center, calmly making key third and fourth down plays while passing for 272 yards and two touchdowns. He had a memorable performance in the fourth quarter when he took the ball under center and attempted a one-yard dive. But the Tigers packed up the middle, leaving Taylor little room to move.

Somehow, he emerged from the scrimmage, returned to the 10-yard line, and circled around the left end, diving into the end zone and then jumping up to celebrate.

“He wouldn’t have played a play like this two years ago,” Scogin said. “He’s grown so much.”

Next Friday, the Vikings will host Destrehan, who routed Northwood 63-21, in the quarterfinals.

Jimmy Watson covers Louisiana sports for the USA TODAY Network. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @JimmyWatson6.

This article originally appeared in the Shreveport Times: LSU advances Darby, Taylor to LHSAA quarterfinals