The Minden Crimson Tide have enjoyed plenty of success this season.
Through seven games, the Tide are 5-2 overall and 3-1 in district play, their lone loss in district play to the Benton Tigers.
Third year head coach Spencer Heard has the Tide in position for a second straight trip to the Class 4A playoffs with a talented roster.
On offense, junior quarterback Antonio Rivette has done a masterful job of commanding the Crimson Tide, spreading the ball to a number of playmakers, most notably, L’Jarius Sneed.
Sneed missed the first three games of the season before making his comeback against Fair Park and rushing for two touchdowns in that contest. Junior Tavarius Edwards has followed up a strong sophomore season with several big plays in the passing and running game, while tight end Kelcey Miller has been productive and running backs Rodtravion Rogers, Kolby Jackson and D.J. Elkins have ran well when called upon.
Defensively, Minden has established themselves as one of the area’s top units, with juniors
Zi’Kerrion Baker and Cameron Morgan leading a vicious front seven and senior Dekeltric Freelon has been outstanding in the secondary and return game (three kick return touchdowns).
Minden started the season with a shutout of Southwood, a team that had been a thorn in the side of Heard to begin his tenure with the Tide. That outing was followed by a tough 17-10 loss to Haughton at home in The Pit, but the Tide bounced back with a drama-filled 27-20 victory over the North Webster Knights in the the first matchup ever between the two schools.
Minden rolled over Fair Park 35-8 and then made quick work of Huntington at home (32-0), setting up what was a thriller between the Tide and Benton Tigers.
Minden trailed Benton by 14 points twice in the game, battling back to tie the score late in the fourth quarter. An untimely fumble ended up winning the game for Benton, 41-34, but the Tide got record breaking performances from Rivette and Sneed in the loss.
Rivette threw for 417 yards, a new single game record, and five touchdowns. Sneed was equally impressive, putting on a show and playing what his head coach called, “probably the single best effort from a receiver” he had ever seen. He finished with eight catches for 278 yards and four touchdowns, breaking the record for single game yardage and tying the record for single game touchdown catches.
The Tide bounced back from the bitter loss with a convincing 35-10 win last week against Bossier, and this week provides another big test as the Northwood Falcons come to town.
Minden needs a win to keep pace in a crowded 1-4A race and maintain their currently strong playoff position.