Matt Vines

COUSHATTA – Red River football coach Byron Keller wanted to season his players on how to take successful road trips after the Bulldogs lost a halftime lead in the first-round playoff upset bid this past season.

The Bulldogs have one successful road trip under their belt this season as Red River took down Jonesboro-Hodge, 20-12, at ULM’s Bayou Jamb this past week.

Red River will pack its bags again to start the regular season as they head down to Catholic-Pointe Coupee on Friday.

“Our schedule this season will account for numerous road trips and traveling to different parts of the state,” Keller said. “That gives our players an opportunity to see the different communities around the state and to get exposure and start to get recognized as an up and coming program in the state.

“The players will now have more experience traveling, and it won’t be a new experience. I want them to understand that we have done it already.”

Red River plays five of its first six games on the road to start the season, aiming to improve on its 0-5 start from this past season.

The Bulldogs have to replace 14 seniors from a three-win team this past season, but Keller said his younger players have stepped up to the plate.

“We played physical football (in the jamboree), and that’s what we’re going to hang our hat on weekly,” Keller said. “We have to clean up our mistakes in the second half, but we feel really good about our team.
“Our philosophy is to keep everything simple and allow our players to make plays. We’ve had a successful offseason and a great fall camp, and our players understand our plan of attack and how we will counter our opponents’ attack.”

Red River has a stable of running backs supported by second-year starting quarterback Maliq Smith. Smith, along with defensive backs Jomello McDonald and Warren Bowman, were part of Red River’s basketball team that reached the state championship game.

They’ll match up with a Catholic-Pointe Coupee squad that won eight games and a playoff game one year ago.

A win in Week One will set up Red River for its only home game in the first half of the season against St. Mary’s.