Featured photo by Kelsey Chanler
The Minden Crimson Tide’s formula for success worked to near perfection Friday night in a 28-6 victory over the Woodlawn Knights at The Pit.
The formula is something like this — run the ball effectively, get a lead and run the clock, hit a few key passes and play suffocating defense.
“That’s pretty much it,” Minden Head Coach Spencer Hesrd said. “That’s kind of what we’re doing right now. Hopefully we can keep that going.”
The game was the District 1-4A opener for both teams. Minden improved to 4-0 overall. Woodlawn dropped to 1-3.
For the second week in a row, Minden’s defense was dominant.
Woodlawn had four first downs in the first half. The Knights didn’t get their first one in the second half until their final drive. That’s also the only time they crossed into Tide territory in the game.
The only suspense left then was if the Tide would get a shutout for the second week in a row. They didn’t. Thanks in part to a penalty and some pass plays, Woodlawn got into the end zone on a run by quarterback Quintin Wilson with 32 seconds left.
“Our defense played really, really well for the second week in a row,” Heard said “They’re playing really well together. We’ve got guys flying to the ball. We get a lot of hats to the ball. Making tackles. I think our coverage was good all night.”
Wilson, an outstanding athlete, gained 75 yards on 17 carries, per stats kept for the KASO/KBEF radio/web broadcast. But the Tide kept him from making big plays.
“We kept him bottled up,” Heard said.
The Knights had 141 yards total offense.
Meanwhile, Minden rolled up 171 yards on the ground. Quarterback Hudson Brown put the ball in the air only seven times with three completions. But two of those were on third-and-7 and third-and-10 situations on touchdown drives.
Tight end Mikey Shepherd caught both of those passes covering 16 and 20 yards.
“He kind of had an ankle injury and he’s just now getting back,” Heard said. “He’s a good target for Hudson, tight end location. I thought he played well. I thought Hudson played well tonight, had some good throws. We’re getting better in that aspect also so I think we’ll be better as the year goes on.”
Minden did not get off to a great start, fumbling on the first play on their first offensive series. But the Tide got going on their second series, driving 48 yards in six plays for a touchdown. Denarius Crowe, who had a team-high 79 yards on 15 carries, dashed 18 yards for the TD. Braxton Glover’s PAT put the Tide on top 7-0 with 8:26 left in the second quarter.
On its next possession, Minden went 64 yards in nine plays. Jaylon McKinney scored from 2 yards out with 1:50 to play in the half.
Minden used up almost half the third quarter on a drive into Knights territory, but it didn’t result in points thanks in part to a penalty.
The Tide took the 14-0 lead into the fourth quarter. While only two scores, the lead looked huge with the way the defense was playing.
Minden got on the board again with a 13-play, 64-yard drive that took 6:12. Crowe scored on a 2-yard run.
Then, with Woodlawn inside its 5, Treshun Young intercepted a pass and returned it 20 yards for the game’s final touchdown.
“That was a huge play in the game,” Heard said. “He did a great job of breaking on that ball and getting in the end zone.”
Caylien Aubrey and Porter Neal both rushed for 29 yards. McKinney with 27.
There should be plenty of excitement Friday night in The Pit. Not only is it homecoming, but there will also be a battle of unbeatens.
Minden hosts Loyola (3-1), which routed Southward 5-0 Friday night. The Flyers have won three straight since an 8-6 loss to St. Frederick in the season opener.
NOTE: First four photos by Kelsey Chanler. Last three by Douglas Blow.
