By Matt Vines, Journal Sports

PINEVILLE – Red River has been prone to slow starts this season, digging itself large holes against the likes of White Castle, Oak Grove and Catholic-Pointe Coupee.

The Bulldogs didn’t allow that to happen at Class 5A Pineville as Red River traded blows with the Rebels early, but a faster start wasn’t enough in a 32-20 Pineville victory.

Pineville (3-2) started fast when quarterback Carter Smith hit Landon Grimes for a 20-yard touchdown in the opening minutes.

But Red River’s (1-4) Warren Bowman had an answer, returning the ensuing kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown to cut Pineville’s edge to 7-6.

The Smith-Grimes connection struck again on the next drive, this time for a 66-yard scoring hookup as the Rebels sprinted out of the gate to a 14-6 lead just five minutes in.

The Bulldogs responded again late in the first quarter as quarterback Malique Smith tossed a 10-yard touchdown to Bowman, getting to 14-12.

The turnover bug bit Red River for a second straight week as the Bulldogs had a scoring chance after Pineville muffed the kickoff.

But Pineville intercepted Smith, returned it to the 25-yard line and scored on an Ayden Tate 2-yard run.
While both teams combined to score 32 points in just more than a quarter, the defenses reigned supreme from there.

Pineville took its 20-12 lead into halftime, adding another score when Jacob Miranda returned a Red River fumble for a touchdown midway through the third quarter for a 26-12 edge.

Red River lost another fumble, which led to a Tate 17-yard touchdown run and a 32-12 advantage.

The Bulldogs got within two scores when Bowman plunged in on a short touchdown run to cut Pineville’s advantage to 32-20, but Red River could come no closer.

Bowman accounted for all three scores in different manners – kickoff return, receiving and rushing.
Red River kicks off District 3-2A play at Mansfield (2-3) in its fourth straight road game and fifth in its first six contests.