Featured photo by Douglas Blow
The Minden Crimson Tide ended a two-game slide with a 52-13 rout of the Southwood Cowboys Friday night at W.W. Williams, Sr. Stadium.
Minden improved to 6-2 overall and 3-2 in District 1-4A. Southwood dropped to 1-7 and 1-4.
In lopsided losses to North DeSoto and Northwood the last two weeks, the Crimson Tide quickly fell behind.
Friday night, they put Southwood in a big hole early. Minden jumped out to a 25-0 lead in the first quarter and led 46-7 at the half.
“It looked like the team I expect to see with the guys that we have,” Minden Head Coach Spencer Heard said. “They just played up to expectation, basically. I was proud of their effort.”
Abreon Curry, who has been used sparingly on offense, scored four touchdowns in three different ways.
“He’s definitely a weapon over there,” Heard said.
Curry returned the opening kickoff 87 yards for a touchdown. He ran 46 yards for a touchdown and caught a 24-yard pass from Kaiden King in the first quarter. Curry also caught a 26-yard TD pass from King in the second quarter.
Lucas Owens Jr. had a big game. Per stats kept for the KBEF-FM broadcast, he rushed for 176 yards on 16 carries and scored touchdowns on runs of 14 and 6 yards.
Javen Calloway returned an interception 55 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter. Jaden Johnson ran 53 yards for a TD.
Minden rolled up 418 yards with 322 of that on the ground. The Tide held the Cowboys to 209 yards.
“I thought Lucas ran the ball well,” Heard said. “Jaden had a good night. King had a good night. We ran the ball, but I mean, Kaiden was effective throwing. Our defense played well. Got some turnovers and just a good night all around.”
Heard said his players were able to shake off the previous two losses well.
“We were we were a little flat Monday, had a little hangover,” he said. “As we progressed, they started getting more positive and they were completely flushed by, I guess, like Wednesday.”
Minden doesn’t have a game next week. The Crimson Tide close the regular season against Booker T. Washington (6-2, 2-1) at home Nov. 6. The Lions defeated Woodlawn 44-0 Friday night.
At No. 20 in the non-select Division II power rankings, Minden is a lock to make the playoffs.