Matt Vines

COUSHATTA – Football is an emotional game, and the Week 3 matchup between Red River and Parkway features teams who experienced different sides of that coin in Week 2.

The Bulldogs (0-2) lost a heartbreaker to St. Mary’s, storming back from a two-score deficit to take the lead only to have the Tigers score in the final minutes of a 26-20 St. Mary’s win.

Parkway trailed for nearly the entire fourth quarter against Loyola, but a late score plus an interception in the end zone with four seconds remaining sealed the win for the Panthers in what’s being billed as Shreveport-Bossier’s Game of the Year. Parkway won 42-41.

Now the Bulldogs must heal their own wounds and head to a Class 5A Parkway squad that’s riding high.

Red River is familiar with Class 5A opponents in its recent history as Parkway and Haughton used to be yearly staples.

The Bulldogs played Haughton and Parkway consecutively to open the 2022 and 2023 seasons.

Red River nearly knocked off Haughton 2021, falling 55-49 in a thriller.

The Bulldogs will need to overcome more than just Parkway’s larger roster size and momentum. A versatile Parkway offense consists of LSU commit Gary Burney Jr. at receiver, one of many ways the Panthers can attack an opponent.

But Red River does have one nugget in its back pocket – its scored first in both of their games this season.

While the Bulldogs’ foes Tioga and St. Mary’s responded with runs to build leads in those games, if Red River can strike first and better navigate their opponents’ response, they could extend the game and put pressure on Parkway.

Forcing turnovers and cashing those in for points will be key to staying close.

Red River forced a St. Mary’s fumble that sparked a two-touchdown turnaround that allowed them to tie the game.

The Tigers did score in the final minutes to seal the win.

Now the Bulldogs want to put themselves in a similar position this week but with a different ending.

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