HAUGHTON – The Minden High Crimson Tide traveled down Highway 80 Friday night for a showdown with their long-time rivals, the Haughton Buccaneers.
With both the home and visitor stands nearly full of fans, the emotions were high as The Crimson Tide and Buccaneers were tied at 14 with just 0:44 seconds left in the first half.
Unfortunately, the Bucs would score a touchdown as time expired in the first half, and the Tide never got back on track, falling 42-14 on the road.
“I thought we played well overall,” head coach Spencer Heard said. “We had some moments in the game where we should have scored on the goal line. If we could have got the one in third quarter in I feel like we could have been in it. We continued to play hard though, things just didn’t go our way and the score isn’t indicative of how things went.”
The Tide sustained long drive after long drive throughout the game, with the Tide’s first possession lasting almost nine and a half minutes before L’Jarius Sneed bullied his way into the endzone around the right end.
The other Crimson Tide touchdown came on a beautiful 56 yard bomb from Antonio Rivette to Tavarius Edwards. That score tied things at 14.
“When things started to go against us in the second half we had to get away from the ground game,” Heard said. “We stuck with what we wanted to do in the first half. Overall, I thought they played well and I think they’ll give us a chance to compete when we get to district.”
Defensively, the Tide held their own for most of the night against a much bigger Haughton team.
“They got us on a play where they threw it deep to a back out of the backfield,” Heard said. “It is what it is; I thought our guys played hard. There were a few times we had guys out of position and lost our outside leverage on some sweep plays. Overall, we held them at bay through the air which is what they like to do.”
The Tide will look at this game and wonder what might have been if they could have scored on an opportunity from inside the five yard line in the third quarter.
“I feel like if we could have got that ball in on the first drive of the third quarter we would have had the momentum,” Heard said. “We had a penalty on a play where we scored that brought it back. We have to do a better job of doing what it takes to capitalize on those opportunities.”
Antonio Rivette went 13-23 passing with 171 yards and a touchdown. On the ground, Rivette, added 51 yards, Kolby Jackson had 41 and Rodtravion Rogers added 43 of his own. Kelcey Miller led the receivers with four catches for 67 yards and Tavarius Edwards caught four balls for 66 and a touchdown.
The Tide will get back to work as they prepare to welcome Woodlawn to The Pit this Friday.