Matt Vines

COUSHATTA – There’s one thing that second-year head coach Travis Gary wanted to make sure of when his Red River football squad entered the playoffs.

That they’d be battle-tested.

Those tests begin Friday when Division III Select state runner-up Calvary Baptist visits Pat Strother Stadium.

The 5:30 p.m. jamboree includes middle school, junior varsity and varsity contests.

“Our goal this season is to play the best,” Gary said. “We want our guys to be battle-tested and to have seen what top-tier football looks like.

“I think matching the level of play of a state championship contender will show our guys that it is within reach for us and give our guys confidence to make a run.”

Red River put on the pads against Bossier in last week’s scrimmage.

“I learned that our team will be able to handle adversity,” Gary said of the scrimmage performance. “When things aren’t perfect, our guys will rally the troops and find a way.”

Landon Wilson will be under center this season after Bulldogs’ fans watched three years of Malique Smith at quarterback.

Wilson, an all-district receiver this past season, is making strides with the ball in his hands.

“He’s made great strides, and he already has a grasp on the system since he was a receiver,” Gary said. “He’s getting more and more comfortable in that role.

Even with Wilson’s departure from the receiving corps along with the graduation of Warren Bowman and Carl Lewis, Red River still brings back all-district performer Lathyn Lewis (receiver and returner) along with a crop of younger players.

The Bulldogs will also be looking for a new starting running back after Cedric Moody’s graduation, but all-district offensive lineman Ty Cole will anchor a unit that will attempt to plow the road ahead.

A young defense improved throughout, and even though some important faces like Gaylon Brewer and Cameron Jones, the Bulldogs still have veterans at each level.

Linebacker Nathaniel Burton and defensive lineman Jarvis Whitaker are anchors up front, and defensive backs Ethan Lopez and Noah Adams will patrol the backfield.

“We do have experience in the secondary, at linebacker, and up front,” Gary said. “We will have some new faces, but our defense will be sound.”

Red River finished this past season 6-5 and second place in the district thanks to a one-score loss to Mansfield (38-30).

The Bulldogs fell in the first round of the playoffs to district foe Many, whom Red River beat in the regular season.

Calvary Baptist ran to the Division III Select state championship game as the No. 6 seed, falling 34-17 to No. 5 Dunham.

The Cavaliers have two states titles (2020, 2023) in the past six years.

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