Matt Vines
MANY – Forty-two straight points.

It’s the type of run that Many is accustomed to engineering, but on Friday, it was Red River that went on such a run in a 48-8 win on the road.

The two squads traded scores with Many converting a two-point conversion to take a rare lead this season (8-6), and the Tigers stopped Red River in the red zone to gain more momentum.

But Red River returned a punt 20 yards for a touchdown to snatch a 14-8 lead that sparked the large run.

A poor punt rolled free around the 20-yard line, one that Many didn’t touch down.

Jacob Kellogg keenly scooped up the ball and returned it for a touchdown.

Montreveun Smith, who scored the game’s first touchdown, bulled his way for the two-point conversion, and the Bulldogs never trailed again.

“It seemed that both teams were feeling each other out early,” said Red River coach Byron Keller. “The punt return was the spark of energy that we needed.

“Our kids finally saw and believed that we could beat Many.”

Red River forced a Many fumble inside the red zone after a long Tiger drive, and the Bulldogs marched 89 yards that ended in a Malique Smith 50-yard touchdown pass to Jomello McDonald to build a 20-8 edge.

The win is Red River’s (4-4, 3-0 District 3-2A) third straight and puts the Bulldogs in prime position to win an outright district title with a victory against Winnfield (4-4, 1-1) this coming week. It could have been a sort of defacto championship game, but Winnfield fell to Mansfield for its first district loss Friday.

Red River could win its first district title since 2005 after beating Many for the first time since 2007.

Many (0-8, 0-3), winners of the last 10 district titles, remain winless on the season with all losses coming by at least 20 points.

Back to Friday’s action, Red River stretched its 20-8 halftime lead when Malique Smith foud Geramiyah Williams for a 10-yard touchdown to start the third quarter.

The defense forced a turnover on downs near midfield, and Montreveun Smith scored his second touchdown of the night on an 8-yard run for a 34-8 lead.

A Cameron Jones interception return for a touchdown and a Warren Bowman rushing score capped the fourth-quarter scoring.