By Pat Culverhouse
Minden’s Crimson Tide kept their unbeaten season intact Friday, treating a Homecoming crowd to a 28-13 win over Loyola College Prep to go 5-0 on the year and 2-0 in District 1-4A play.
Things didn’t start well for the Tiders as Loyola quarterback Bryce Restovich teamed up with wideout Ben Brewer for an 80-yard touchdown pass before fans had settled in their seats. With only 11 seconds gone off the clock, Evan Lirette kicked the Flyers to a 7-0 lead.
That score stood through the first quarter, but Minden pulled even when Brayden Britton hauled in a 32-yard scoring toss from quarterback Hudson Brown with 8:49 to go in the second to end a seven play, 45-yard drive. Braxton Glover kicked the first of his four conversions for a 7-7 tie.
Minden’s second score of the quarter, a Caylien Aubrey three-yard run, came just 23 seconds before halftime to put the Tide up 14-7 after a brief 31-yard drive set up by a Flyer turnover.
Both teams hit paydirt in the third quarter with Minden striking first when Denarius Crowe bulled in from one yard out to end a time-consuming 13-play, 78 yard drive. With 5:39 remaining in the third, the Tide was up 21-7.
Loyola set sail on a lengthy drive of their own, going 87 yards in 13 plays to pull with in one score on Restovich’s second TD pass of the night, an eight-yarder to Jake Black. Lirette’s PAT attempt was blocked, leaving Loyola on the short end of a 21-13 score.
Lucas Owens gave the Tide its final cushion in the fourth quarter when he scooted seven yards into the end zone, capping another lengthy 13-play, 70-yard drive that took 6:50 off the clock. With a 28-13 lead, the Tide defense shut the door on Loyola’s final effort.
Minden’s defensive unit again proved hard to penetrate on the ground, holding the Flyers to only 46 net rushing yards for the game. Meanwhile, Tide runners rushed for 179 yards, led by Aubrey with 65 yards on 15 carries.
Owens picked up 42 yards for the game on 14 attempts, while Denarius Crowe added another 32 yards on 10 tries. Brown rushed six times for 21 yards. Brown also had a good night throwing, completing nine of 12 passes for 92 yards and one touchdown.
Loyola’s big gains Friday came through the air, as Restovich completed 13 of 20 passes for 202 yards and two scores with a pair of interceptions. He also led the Flyers in rushing with 30 yards on eight carries. Tiders Kameron Harris and Jaylon McKinney each picked off a Restovich pass.
On the receiving end, the Flyers’ Brewer caught six passes for 139 yards and one touchdown, while Minden’s Jaxon Smith caught four for 45 yards, Mikey Shepherd had two catches for 17 yards and Britton had one catch for 32 yards and a TD.
While the Tide’s record remains spotless, Loyola falls to 3-2 on the season and 1-1 in district play.
Minden faces a tough test Friday in another District 1-4A contest, traveling to Stonewall to take on North DeSoto’s Griffins who also sport a 2-0 conference record and stand at 3-2 overall. North DeSoto’s losses came to powerhouse West Monroe and a strong Center, Texas team.
