Matt Vines

COUSHATTA – The atmosphere around Red River High has been palpable.

Talks of the program’s first district championship since 2005 have been on everyone’s lips, and the Bulldogs would have an opportunity to secure the trophy at home and on Senior Night.

Red River made sure that the community could unleash nearly 20 years of not winning a title by dominating Winnfield from the first whistle.

The Bulldogs scored 38 first-half points and accounted for the game’s first 50 points in a 50-6 rout of Winnfield.

“It was great. That was a great high school football game experience,” said Red River coach Byron Keller.

“And being able to win the district title at home sealed the night.

“The excitement and celebrations after the game will be great memories for years.”

Red River (5-4, 4-0 District 3-2A) raced to a 22-0 lead after the first quarter and tacked on 16 more points in the second to erase any doubt of the outcome.

The Bulldogs have outscored their last three opponents 128-20, which included knocking off a previously unbeaten Lakeside squad in a 30-6 victory.

Red River’s 12 seniors can go ahead and submit their ring sizes after the Bulldogs completed a 4-0 district slate with wins against Mansfield (20-12), Lakeside (30-6), Many (48-8) and now Winnfield.

Names like receiver/cornerback Jomello McDonald and running back Montraveun Smith were central to Friday’s win as they’ve been all year.

But it’s more than just Red River’s most experienced players – juniors like quarterback Malique Smith and running back/defensive back Warren Bowman are growing in their roles.

Match that with an underclassmen-laden offensive line that’s steadily improved, and that explains why an offense that struggled early has surged in the last month.

“Malique especially has steadily improved as the season progressed,” Keller said. “He’s been able to handle more of the offense and improved tremendously in the passing game.

“The offensive line has also improved each week, which has allowed Malique to be comfortable and carve up defenses.”

The defense has experienced similar improvement throughout the season.

Winnfield has held to less than 200 offensive yards, including just three yards per rush.

“Alignment, assignment, and execution,” Keller said when describing the defensive’s performance Friday.

“We preach these three foundations.

“Then, when we add our fast and physical style, it gives opposing offenses trouble.”
Red River has now won seven of the last eight meetings against Winnfield.

While the Bulldogs have had some success over the past 20 years, particularly in the John Bachman years and then under Bachman’s coordinator Jeff Harper, there’s been a glass ceiling in district play with Calvary Baptist or Many as the preeminent power.

Calvary Baptist has been in a different district since 2016, and Many moved in and ruled the roost from there.

But Many’s demise allowed a wide-open district race, one in which Red River inserted itself and threw its weight around.

The Bulldogs’ four-game winning streak is its longest since winning four straight in 2020, which also included a Winnfield win.

Red River will attempt to make it five-in-a-row when they head to Oakdale (3-6) to finish the regular season.

The Bulldogs sit at No. 12 in the Division III Non-Select rankings.

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