Matt Vines

COUSHATTA – One can always find a party atmosphere at Homecoming no matter the result of the football game.

But Red River gave the Coushatta community something else to celebrate as the Bulldogs shellacked Many in a 34-6 win.

Red River (4-4, 2-1 District 3-2A) needed the win to keep its bid alive to repeat as district champions.
And the Bulldogs dispatched of a hot Many (4-4, 2-1) squad that had scored a total of 122 points in its previous two district wins.

Many stud running back Daniel Thomas fired the first shot with his game-opening touchdown, but the Bulldogs suffocated the Many offense from then on.

“Our defense locked in on the game plan and they executed,” said first-year Red River coach Travis Gary. “They played their butts off.”

The offense responded in kind as receiver Warren Bowman scored three touchdowns, often making multiple Many tacklers miss.

Bowman’s first touchdown put the Bulldogs up 7-6 in the first quarter, and Red River had a chance to add to that before a fumbled snap in the red zone ended the threat.

Both teams forced multiple turnovers and missed fourth-down conversions, but Red River’s offense had the firepower to overcome its mistakes.

Quarterback Malique Smith tossed four touchdowns, including one to Landon Wilson to put Red River up 14-6.

Smith bought time with his feet often Friday, scrambling on fourth down before squeezing a pass to Bowman at the front corner of the end zone for a 21-6 lead at halftime.

In the second half, Nate Burton forced a fumble that Cameron Jones recovered to set up Bowman’s third touchdown catch.

Jones added an interception of Many quarterback Kellen Cox that preceded Red River’s final score of the night, a touchdown toss from Smith to Lathyn Lewis.

Red River’s final two touchdowns came in the fourth quarter to put Many away for good.