BY SAMUEL JONES
FOR THE OBSERVER
LOACHAPOKA —
Loachapoka and Providence Christian traded big plays, turnovers and defensive stops for four quarters, but the Eagles ultimately edged out a 17–14 overtime victory in Friday night’s AHSAA Round 2 playoff matchup.
Both teams opened slowly as drives stalled on penalties and incompletions. Loachapoka tried to establish early rhythm behind quarterback KJ Carter, who scrambled for several first downs before a turnover inside the red zone halted their momentum. Providence Christian struggled as well, with a shanked punt and a failed fourth-down attempt leaving points on the field.
Providence finally broke through in the second quarter. Quarterback Craig Pittman connected with John Martin Byrd on a screen and later found him deep down the left sideline, setting up a short touchdown run by senior running back Tyler Sharp for a 7–0 lead.
Loachapoka responded immediately behind its two workhorse backs, Lareaco Echols and Ryquan Butler. Echols powered through the defense for multiple first-down runs, and Butler capped the drive with a pitch into the end zone to tie the game. After forcing a stop, Loachapoka struck again just before halftime. Carter delivered a deep strike to Travis Andrews for a 30-yard touchdown with eight seconds remaining, giving the Indians a 14–7 halftime advantage.
The Eagles flipped the momentum early in the third quarter with a perfectly placed punt that pinned Loachapoka at the 1-yard line. Minutes later, a blocked punt gave Providence Christian a short field, and senior fullback Colson Love took advantage by bursting up the middle for a long touchdown run, tying the game 14–14.
The fourth quarter turned into a defensive grind. Derrion Calloway hauled in a critical third down catch, but Loachapoka fumbled near midfield to stall the drive. Providence threatened to take the lead, but defensive back Andrew Doolittle came up with a clutch interception near the goal line with 5:41 to play.
Carter and Echols pushed Loachapoka out to the 30-yard line on the ensuing drive, but the offense stalled again and punted with under a minute remaining. Providence crossed midfield, but an ineligible man downfield penalty erased a first down, and regulation ended still tied at 14–14.
Providence Christian took possession first in overtime and was held to a 29-yard field goal by Henry Parsons, thanks to tackles for loss by Sawyer Bienvenu and a pass breakup from Hayden Libscomb. Parsons’ kick gave the Eagles a 17–14 lead. Loachapoka nearly answered immediately, as Carter muscled inside the 10-yard line on the first play of their possession. However, a false start pushed the Indians back, and after two short runs set up third-and-goal from the nine, Carter’s pass into the end zone was intercepted by Bienvenu, sealing Providence Christian’s win and ending Loachapoka’s postseason run.
Loachapoka’s top playmakers rose to the moment in the Round 2 matchup, led by Carter’s standout performance of 141 rushing yards, 77 passing yards and a touchdown. Lareaco Echols added 114 rushing yards on 17 carries, while Travis Andrews chipped in 36 receiving yards and a touchdown. Ryquan Butler scored on the ground, helping Loachapoka control the line of scrimmage for much of the night. Defensively, Andrew Doolittle supplied a momentum-shifting interception in the fourth quarter, and Derrion Calloway contributed a key third-down reception to extend a late drive. Despite producing 263 rushing yards and winning most of the physical battles, the Indians were ultimately undone by turnovers, a blocked punt and key field-position swings.
Providence Christian countered with strong individual efforts of its own. Byrd recorded 60 receiving yards, including a pivotal 54-yard gain that set up a score. Love totaled 71 all-purpose yards and delivered a long touchdown run, while Sharp rushed for 53 yards and a touchdown. Parsons proved decisive, knocking through the game-winning field goal and two PATs.
Loachapoka’s season now comes to a close after a hard-fought playoff run that showcased both the growth and competitive edge of this year’s group. The Indians averaged 19.7 points per game while allowing just under 17, leaning heavily on a defense that kept them in nearly every contest. Their run-first identity produced more than 150 rushing yards per game, with Echols, Butler and Carter forming one of the area’s most dynamic backfield trios. Turnovers remained a lingering issue — the Indians finished the year at — three in turnover margin, a number that played a role in several tight losses, including Friday’s overtime defeat.
Still, Loachapoka ends the season with a winning record, a playoff victory and a core of returning starters that gives the program strong momentum heading into 2025.
While the Round 2 loss stings, the team’s resilience, physicality and emerging talent point toward another postseason push next fall.
With the win, Providence Christian moves on to Round 3 of the Class 2A playoffs, where they will take on Reeltown, a team riding high after a commanding 63–28 victory over Cottonwood in the second round. Reeltown enters the matchup with one of the most explosive offenses in the bracket, setting up a challenging test for a Providence Christian defense that has come up big throughout the postseason. The Eagles will look to carry their overtime momentum into what promises to be one of the most anticipated matchups of the quarterfinal round.
