To say the Minden Crimson Tide got off to a fast start against the West Ouachita Chiefs is a bit of an understatement.
Minden scored five touchdowns in the game’s first eight minutes en route to a 56-36 victory at W.W. Williams Stadium. The Tide improved to 3-0 for the second time in three years. The Chiefs dropped to 0-3.
Minden recovered an astounding eight fumbles, per stats kept for the KBEF-FM radio and Facebook broadcast, and returned two for touchdowns.
After rolling to a 38-0 lead, the Tide had a bit of a lull in the second quarter. West Ouachita scored three touchdowns and got within 44-28 at the half.
But the Chiefs didn’t get any closer. Braylen Ferrell returned a fumble 39 yards for a touchdown on West Ouachita’s first possession of the second half. Kaiden King completed a 35-yard touchdown pass to Ian Clark and Minden led 56-28 after three quarters.
“We came out on fire,” Heard said. “The defense is playing good. We’re getting turnovers. We were quickly capitalizing on those turnovers and everything was going our way. And then all of a sudden, somewhere in there, maybe in the second quarter, they kind of got in rhythm. Our defense was having to stay out there because we were scoring so fast and the fatigue started to set in.
“That style of offense too. They just grind on you and they started getting some scores and stuff. But I think we came in at halftime, talked, kind of got a second wind and
came out and got it together and played a great second half. I thought the defense rose up in the second half and just started really kind of punching them in the mouth and just playing really well.
“Yeah, I was impressed with our defense, especially in that second half where they just showed a lot of guts. They’ve done it so far all season. So proud of that.”
Minden’s early scoring onslaught began with a 23-yard touchdown pass from Kaiden King to Jaden Johnson with 9:23 left in the first quarter.
King had a hand in the next two touchdowns, a 31-yard pass to Ian Clark and a 10-yard run. After Davis’ fumble return, King ran 23 yards for a touchdown.
King completed 10-of-19 passes for 156 yards four touchdowns.
Heard thought King and Clark both played their best games of the season. Clark had a 35-yard touchdown catch in the second half. He also scored a two-point conversion.
“King had a kind of breakout game,” Heard said. “That’s the best game he’s had overall. I thought Ian Clark kind of showed what he could do tonight.
“And we kind of struggled in the run game, but we kind of thought that going in. They’re really big in the box and, but we were able to win it the other way. So I thought that the O line did a good job pass blocking. We had time to throw the ball so it all worked out.”
Minden’s other touchdown came on a 31-yard pass from King to Lucas Owens Jr. with 5:46 left in the second quarter. Owens and Emmanuel Kinsey also scored a two-point conversion.
The Tide went for two after every TD. They were successful on three attempts.
Because the turnovers constantly gave Minden great field position and the defensive touchdowns, the Tide’s stats weren’t what you might expect in a 56-point outing. Minden ran only 45 plays.
The Tide had 245 total yards. Owens led the team in rushing with 49 yards on 10 carries.
Johnson had four catches for 32 yards. Kinsey had three for 27.
Minden begins District 1-4A play Thursday on the road against Bossier. The Bearkats (2-1) lost to Logansport 50-8 Friday night.