The last time the Green Oaks football team started the season 6-0, former Grambling quarterback Doug Williams was becoming the first African American quarterback to start in, and win, a Super Bowl. "Rain Man" won the Best Picture Oscar, “Die Hard” made Bruce Willis a star and Nike released its “Just Do It” slogan for the first time that year.
It was 1988 and most folks in these parts don’t remember many of the details the downtrodden little football team on Cooper Road that was built into a powerhouse by the late, great Gerald Kimble, who used the team’s success to vault into the college ranks as Southern University’s football coach. Heck, most of the parents of the current Green Oaks team, which moved to 6-0 Friday after dispatching Magnolia Charter 54-6 at Northwood’s Jerry Burton Memorial Stadium, weren’t even born in 1988.
But the historical relevance of the occasion wasn’t lost on administrators, coaches and players, who’ve witnessed a remarkable turnaround in the second season under 32-year-old coach Nick Peoples. Kimble, who passed away at age 84 in March after a storied career, would be proud of what his predecessor has built from a school that thrives on its athletic success. Finishing 3-7 in 2025 after three forfeits, Peoples has similar attributes to Kimble, but has also forged his on way.
“Two different eras, but they both stress discipline,” said assistant coach Carl Harris, who play for Kimble and works for Peoples. “It’s funny how Kimble was an offensive coach who won with defense and Peoples is a defensive coach who’s winning with offense.”
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Friday’s win came on homecoming night with a near full house of fans watching a team that historically has attracted a meager few. Defensive end Ja’Kerrious Smith, who leads the state with 12½ sacks and was a disruptive force against Magnolia, said he’s enjoyed the run.
“Growing up as a little Cooper Road, it means so much to be 5-0, fixing to be 6-0,” Smith said. “See our fans. They’re all out here for us.”
Peoples has embraced the history of Green Oaks, which has been anything but inspirational over the last couple of decades. The Giants were headed in the right direction in the third year under Terrence Isaac (2020) when they went 6-2 in the Covid-shortened season. Isaac left after that season and is now the head coach at Wayne State.
“This summer, I took the initiative to research some of the former coaches at Green Oaks,” Peoples said. “I wanted to learn about their legacies, what they accomplished and what made them successful. My goal was to take some of those lessons and add them to my own coaching toolbox.”
Apparently, the formula has worked. The Giants were 10-40 over the past five seasons, including 3-7 last year. Now, they’re one win away from setting a record for a school that opened in 1971 with 55 seasons of football. Notable graduates include NFLers Tre’Davious White, L’Damian Washington and Ezra Johnson.
Those guys and the current players will have to wait a couple of weeks to see if they’re record breakers. The Giants have an open date next Friday and will travel Oct. 23 to Homer for a historical game. The 1988 team lost in Week 7 to Parkway.
“The winning streak has brought a lot of people back to Cooper Road to see these boys,” GO principal Joseph Anderson said. “Coach Peoples and his staff have put a lot of energy and motivation into the boys and they’re putting it altogether at the right time. The environment has been great.
Jimmy Watson covers Louisiana sports for the USA TODAY Network. Email him at jwatson@shreveporttimes.com and follow him on Twitter @JimmyWatson6.
This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Green Oaks football makes school history by topping Magnolia Charter