Matt Vines

COUSHATTA – The Red River football team is still in the hunt for a second straight District 3-2A title as the regular season makes the final turn into the last two weeks.

The Bulldogs (4-4, 2-1) are in the thick of the district title race as they play their final district game on the road at Winnfield (2-6, 0-2).

Red River, sitting at No. 19 in the Division III Non-Select power rankings, are also dreaming of a top-16 finish and a first-round home playoff game.

But there’s likely another motivator that’s top of mind for the players.

They’ll be facing their former head coach Byron Keller when they make the trek to Winnfield.

Keller was the head coach that guided the Bulldogs to their first district title since 2005 and their first playoff win since 2021.

He took the Winnfield head coaching and athletics director position this offseason.

Another wrinkle in the story – it was Keller’s Red River team that spanked Winnfield twice this past season, including a 48-6 win in the first round of the playoffs.

The Bulldogs have a bit of a different look this season under first-year head coach Travis Gary.

The former Red River quarterback has opened up the offense with three-year starter Malique Smith under center, and Smith has commanded with his arm and legs an offense that’s scored at least 30 points in its last six games.

But perhaps the most exciting part of Red River’s 34-6 win against Many was the defensive performance.
The young defensive unit has taken its lumps this season with three teams scoring at least 40 points, but the Bulldogs corralled a powerful Many rushing attack and created key turnovers.

Winnfield brings a similarly explosive rushing attack spearheaded by running back Detavious Williams, who’s a threat to score from anywhere on the field.

A win means that Red River puts added pressure on Mansfield (6-2, 2-0) to remain perfect through the rest of its district play against Lakeside and Many.

But even if the Wolverines win out and claim their first district title in more than 20 years, Red River is well positioned to earn a home game with wins against Winnfield and Oakdale (0-8).

Ask the Bulldogs, and they may even prefer a first-round home game rather than a share of a district title if Many finds a way to knock off Mansfield in the finale.

Many, currently at No. 17, is one of the teams Red River would have to jump to claim a home game.

And it’s a team that Red River could possibly face in the first round in a 15-18 or 16-17 matchup pending the results of the final two weeks.

But if the Bulldogs could double dip and have both a district title share and a first-round home playoff game – that’d be the dream scenario.