Matt Vines

COUSHATTA – To be the best, you have to beat the best.

That’s the mindset coach Travis Gary is instilling in his team as the Bulldogs open the regular season with Tioga at Pat Strother Stadium.

One week after Calvary Baptist (Division III Select runners-up) put their offensive firepower on display in a 35-0 jamboree win, Red River will turn around and face another explosive offense in Class 4A Tioga.

“We have to match Tioga’s physicality up front and use our speed to our advantage,” Gary said. “The take away from the jamboree is that we have to learn not to play the name on the jersey, but treat every opponent as our equal.

“We did some good things (in the jamboree), but we were hesitant and didn’t execute like we could have.”

Red River was nearly Tioga’s equal in the 2025 jamboree matchup, falling 21-13 in one half of football.

But both teams had a different quarterback situation in 2025 – Red River counted on three-year starter Malique Smith while Tioga three-year starter Cace Malone engineered one of the most dangerous offenses in the state.

The Bulldogs have installed Landon Wilson under center this season, a former all-district receiver.

If Wilson can’t go because of an injury suffered this past week, Ashton Johnson will get the nod in the season opener.

Tioga will turn to quarterback Ronnie Stevens, who guided the Indians to a 30-0 jamboree win against Grant this past week.

Gary said new quarterbacks at the varsity level take some time, but his group is making progress.

“It is a challenge, especially when our guy (Wilson) has been playing receiver more than taking quarterback reps,” Gary said. “But both Landon and Ashton are more than capable of getting the job done.”

Gary said playing opponents of this quality early in the season will open his players’ eyes to what is possible.

Calvary Baptist was the Division III Select runners-up and has two titles since 2020 and Tioga is a fast-rising program who won nine games and a playoff game in Class 4A/Division I Select.

Both Calvary Baptist and Tioga came to Coushatta to play, offering the community a glimpse into the direction he wants his program to travel.

“That brings great value to our community,” Gary said. “It’s also a representation of who we want to be as a football team.

“Playing quality opponents will expose our team to a speed and intensity that the top teams in our division play with.”

Friday’s battle is also a contest between second-year head coaches in their current positions.

Gary has one season under his belt in which his Bulldogs won their last four regular-season games to finish second in District 3-2A and advance to the playoffs.

Christman served as Tioga’s athletics director and track and field coach when he was promoted from football assistant to the head job, in which the Indians made a five-game improvement in their record.

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