Featured photo of Kameron Harris by Kelsey Chanler
Friday’s season opener between the Minden Crimson Tide and Homer Pelicans was almost like two games in one.
Minden dominated the first one and a half quarters, scoring two defensive touchdowns en route to a 35-0 lead. Unfortunately for the Tide, Homer dominated the final two and a half quarters.
The Pelicans outscored the Tide 32-3 in the second half and pulled out a 46-38 victory at W.W. Williams Jr. Stadium.
“Credit to them,” Minden Head Coach Spencer Heard said. “They’re kids played extremely hard.”
Some crucial mistakes down the stretch, including a fumble deep in Mansfield territory and the failure to successfully field the kickoff after the Wolverines tied the game at 38, proved costly for Minden.
After Mansfield tied the game at 35, Minden took a 38-30 lead on a 25-yard field goal by Braxton Glover with 4:52 left in the game.
But Homer’s Jaydan Hamilton returned the kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown. Terrell Pegues’ two-point conversion tied it.
Homer then recovered the kickoff at the Minden 44. Pegues ran 32 yards for a touchdown and scored another two-point conversion with 2:15 left.
Even so, the Tide still had a chance. Hudson Brown completed a couple of passes and had a good run as Minden drove to the 20 with 57 seconds left. The Tide reached the 14 as the clock ticked down and Minden out of timeouts.
But there was some confusion and Minden did not get a shot at the end zone.
Pegues propelled the Mansfield comeback. According to stats compiled for the KBEF-FM broadcast, he rushed for 187 yards on a whopping 32 carries. He also caught a 69-yard TD pass from Jaterrius Howard.
“They kept trying to run the ball,” Heard said. “They got a couple of little shots to tight ends for touchdowns.”
Minden rolled up 388 total yards. Homer had 318. The Tide had 24 first downs to 14 for the Pelicans. The ran 68 offensive plays to Homer’s 41.
Heard used both Brown and Jaden Johnson at quarterback.
“He’s so fast and I like the slots that I have,” Heard said of Johnson. “I’m trying to get him more touches of the ball. That’s the main reason.”
Brown completed 8-of-11 passes for 148 yards, including a 65-yarder to Lucas Owens Jr. for Minden’s first touchdown.
Johnson caught three passes for 64 yards, including a 32-yard reception on a middle screen on the final drive. He also completed an 18-yard touchdown pass to Kameron Harris and rushed for 29 yards on four carries.
Caylien Aubrey led Minden on the ground with 76 yards on 12 carries. He had an 18-yard touchdown run.
The Tide built its big lead thanks in part to two fumble returns for touchdowns by Javen Calloway for 30 yards and Harris for 70.
Minden will try to bounce back Friday at Homer. The Pelicans defeated Haughton 36-34 in their opener.