Long run, long ago

Theophile Scott ran that kickoff back 96 yards, 65 years ago under the lights in Shreveport on a crisp Oct. 4 evening, and because he did, the Louisiana Normal Demons tied the Gentlemen 6-6.

He made five Centenary defenders whiff. Just ran right at them, and then left them nothing but air.

Seeing is believing. Wednesday, Mr. Scott was in his hometown for a book signing party at the Book Merchant in Natchitoches, and he dropped by the office with a little gift.

At my request, he brought a copy of the game film from that 1941 contest, and a DVD showcasing the long run.

Mr. Scott, also a great athlete at St. Mary’s School in Natchitoches before his days as a Demon, has written a stirring book called “Beat Tech.”

It tells the inside story of the great Demons-Bulldogs football rivalry between Normal and Louisiana Polytechnic Institute in the days before World War II.

Fans of both schools, Northwestern and Louisiana Tech, will enjoy this gem. It’s already a hot seller.

Mr. Scott is living in Shreveport now, and is a regular attendee at the Thursday Demon QB Club luncheons at Ralph & Kacoo’s Restaurant in Bossier City.

We’re going to have to show his run up there tomorrow. Truly, you have to see it to believe it. A lot more fans saw Billy Cannon’s Halloween run for LSU, but Mr. Scott’s long run was equally stirring in its own right.

He managed to come across the film several years after the play. Centenary had disbanded its football team a few years after the war, and never returned to the field. A friend at the college knew that a lot of equipment, film, and other things were being thrown away. Mr. Scott was coaching high school football and got a tip from his friend, who provided some equipment and a canister of film that wasn’t labeled.

Imagine his surprise when it turned out to be that 1941 matchup, with one of many great plays he made as a Demon.

We’ll make a copy of the game and have it available at Watson Library, and another copy will make its way to the Demon football offices. Maybe today’s Demons could get a kick out of seeing it!