Minden had its best offensive game of the season Friday night against the Loyola College Prep Flyers in Shreveport.
Unfortunately for the Crimson Tide, it wasn’t nearly enough.
Loyola pulled away in the second half for a 71-48 District 1-4A victory at Messmer Stadium.
Minden dropped to 2-3 overall and 1-1 in district. Loyola improved to 5-0 and 2-0.
The teams combined for more than 1,100 yards total offense, per stats kept for the KBEF-FM broadcast. The Tide had 518 and the Flyers 654.
Minden led 34-31 at the half. Loyola took the lead on a 22-yard pass from Bryce Restovich to Ty Walsworth early in the third quarter.
The Tide answered with a 58-yard drive capped by a 3-yard run by Caylien Aubrey.
But the Flyers proceeded to score 20 straight points for a 58-41 lead with 8:26 left in the game.
All three TDs came via Restovich passes. Jake Black caught two covering 18 and 22 yards. Charlie McKenzie had his third touchdown catch of the night, this one covering 48 yards. Blake also finished with three TD catches.
The Tide got within 10 on a 24-yard pass from Jaden Johnson to Abreon Curry with 7:00 to play. But the Flyers added two more touchdowns.
Restovich completed 25-of-30 passes for 480 yards and seven touchdowns with one interception.
Mason Drake rushed for 140 yards on 15 carries and scored two touchdowns.
Minden had one of its best passing yardage totals in recent years. Johnson completed 14-of-24 passes for 237 yards with one interception. Hudson Brown completed 3-of-6 for 38 yards.
Aubrey caught seven passes for 111 yards. Kaiden Shine had three catches for 80 yards, including a 53-yard touchdown.
Lucas Owens Jr. led the Tide on the ground with 93 yards on 11 carries. He scored touchdowns on runs of 45 and 9 yards.
Johnson had 74 yards on 10 carries.
Brown scored Minden’s first touchdown on a 1-yard run that capped a 58-yard drive.
Braxton Glover kicked field goals of 36 and 21 yards. He also made six extra-point kicks.
Minden hosts North DeSoto Friday. The Griffins (5-0, 2-0) defeated Booker T. Washington 44-16 Friday night.