Matt Vines

COUSHATTA – The rematch went as well as the first match.

Red River pounded Winnfield for the second time in three weeks as the No. 12 seed Bulldogs rolled over the No. 21 seed Tigers, 48-6, in the first round of the Division III Non-Select playoffs.

The second time was nearly as good as the first – a 50-6 win that secured the District 3-2A title – Red River’s first since 2005.

The Bulldogs (7-4) used a familiar formula – dominate on defense, establish the run, mix in explosive passing plays.

There’s also been one other regular occurrence during Red River’s six-game winning streak – in the last four of those games, the Bulldogs have scored a non-offensive touchdown.

Against Winnfield (4-7), Jomello McDonald blocked a punt that Cameron Jones scooped up and returned for a touchdown.

That score happened as part of Red River’s 28-0 first-half lead.

The Bulldogs got it going with a Montreveun Smith 30-yard rushing touchdown, just the start of an impressive offensive night.

But it was the defense that created short fields for the offense all night, holding Winnfield to just 117 total yards.

“The whole team has played consistently and had great focus, but especially the defense,” said Red River coach Byron Keller. “The defense is playing lights out.

“When the defense scores in each of the last four weeks, you know you have something special.”

Red River needed just 239 offensive yards to take advantage of those short fields, which included 186 yards on the ground.

Other players who reached the end zone for Red River included Warren Bowman, Malique Smith, and Cameron Hobley.

The Bulldogs recorded their first playoff win since 2021, falling the past two seasons in the first round.

Now Red River will face arguably its toughest test of the season when the Bulldogs head to No. 5 seed Union Parish, who knocked off No. 28 seed Oakdale, 42-6, in the first round.

District 3-2A – other than Winnfield – also had a banner night with Mansfield (58-14 win against Avoyelles) and Lakeside (37-12 win Bogalusa).