Louisiana Football: 2017 Season Preview of the Airline Vikings

Written by Charlie Beuttel

Twitter: @charlie_cds3

Experienced gain, games won, and lumps taken during the 2016 season for Airline High School has placed high hopes on the Vikings for the upcoming season. Much like last season, navigating a 5A-District 1 conference schedule with Byrd, Captain Shreve, Evangel Christian, Haughton, Southwood, and Parkway will not be easy but the grizzled Vikings roster may return enough seasoned talent to challenge again in 2017.

Airline High School, located in Bossier City (LA), started off the 2016 season with a bang as they destroyed their first two opponents, Union Parish (27-6) and Green Oaks (30-8). In Week 3, the Vikings momentum was halted as they fell 29-19 to Ruston. Airline would then shutout their next three opponents 17-0, 21-0, and 44-0 with wins coming over Southwood, Captain Shreve and Mansfield.

On Oct. 14, Airline would win their fourth straight with a 35-17 thrashing of Haughton to bring their record to 6-1. Unfortunately, the Vikings would drop their final three games of the regular season which included a 36-34 triple-overtime loss sandwiched in between blowout losses against Evangel Christian Academy and on the road at Parkway. Airline then fell in the opening round of the playoffs, 45-35, to Sulphur to close out the 2016 season with a record 6-4.

In 2017, Airline has several play-makers returning eager to fight through a tough District 1-5A which contains powerhouses Parkway and Evangel Christian.

Offense

Airline put up an impressive average of 27.9 points a game last year and is bringing back several playmakers who gained plenty of experience last season. One player who has made many strides to have an even bigger season this year is junior quarterback Brad Fream. The 6’3”, 200 pound, quarterback threw for 1,800 yards and 20 touchdowns in his sophomore year and was named second team All-District after the season. Another playmaker in Airline’s offense will be senior Coby McGee. McGee unfortunately had a shortened season in 2016 due to a knee injury but does have an offer from Southern Miss. Senior Cameron Davis will be featured at the running back position in Airline’s offense.

Defense

The Vikings gave up 21.9 points a game on average keeping six opponents under 10 points last season. One of the leaders of this lock down unit is senior defensive back Jaylyn Thomas. Thomas was named first team All-Parish last year and holds a college offer from the University of Texas-San Antonio. Another play-maker on the defensive side of the ball is linebacker Zylon Newson. Newson made big plays for the Vikings all season and was named first team All-District. The Viking’s defensive line will be anchored by senior Jordan Cowthorn.

2017 Schedule

9/1/2017 Union Parish

9/8/2017 at Bastrop

9/15/2017 at Ruston

9/22/2017 at Southwood

9/29/2017 Parkway

10/6/2017 Evangel Christian Academy

10/13/2017 at North Webster

10/20/2017 Captain Shreve

10/26/2017 at C.E. Byrd

11/3/2017 at Haughton

Schedule Breakdown

Airline opens the season hosting Union Parish which is a rematch from Week 1 last season when the Vikings won 27-6. The next three weeks the Vikings will have three straight road games where they will travel to Bastrop, Ruston and then Southwood. On Sept. 29, Airline will close out the month with a tough matchup against the powerful Parkway Panthers.

The Vikings start the second half of their season by hosting the Evangel Eagles. On Oct. 13, Airline takes a break from district play traveling to North Webster, a 3A school. The final home game for the Vikings will be on Oct. 20 playing host to Captain Shreve. Airline will then closes out the season with two road games, first on Oct. 26 against C.E. Byrd and then on Nov. 3 at Haughton.

Airline has some very winnable games in 2017 and they should once again be in the race for the district crown at the end of the season. The Vikings have a preseason No. 25 Class 5A ranking by MaxPreps, ahead of No. 28 Captain Shreve and No. 30 Byrd but behind No. 18 Ruston. Parkway is the early season favorite slotted at No. 2 in the state behind Landry-Walker (New Orleans).

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Photo credit: Bossier Press-Tribune; Airline QB Brad Fream