By Pat Culverhouse
Things pretty much followed a familiar pattern Friday as a pounding ground game and stingy defense partnered to propel Minden’s Crimson Tide to a 41-2 District 1-4A win over the Bossier Bearkats.
Crimson Tide runners rushed for 262 total yards and the defense allowed only 151 yards to the ‘Kats offense as Minden upped its season record to 7-1 and 4-1 in the conference.
Quarterback Hudson Brown put the Tide on the scoreboard with just under three minutes remaining in the first quarter when he capped a nine-play, 77-yard drive with a one-yard plunge and a 7-0 lead following Braxton Glover’s PAT.
A short punt punt on the next offensive series put the Tide in business deep in Bearkat territory and Lucas Owens scooted 11 yards to pay dirt and Minden was up 14-0 with just 53 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
Minden tallied three times in the second quarter on TD runs from Caylien Aubrey (a 27-yarder), Owens’ second of the night (from one yard out) and an eight-yarder from Denarius Crowe. Those scores gave the Tide a 34-0 halftime lead.
Kaiden Shine ended a brief touchdown drive when he spun off tackles for a 17-yard scoring run with 8:06 left in the third quarter for the Tide’s final score of the evening. That two-play scoring drive came after another short Bearkat punt.
Minden’s defensive unit made it hard for Bossier’s speedy backfield to get anything going, keeping the Bearkats outside Tide territory for the bulk of the game. Bossier’s only score came on a safety with 2:30 left in the contest.
Crowe was Minden’s leading rusher for the contest, gaining 95 yards on nine carries while Aubrey had five carries for 74 yards. Owens picked up 48 yards on seven tries and Shine added 43 yards on four attempts. Backup quarterback Tyson Oestrich had one carry for 20 yards.
Brown completed two of seven pass attempts for 28 yards while his counterpart, Montrevell Lewis, hit on eight of 19 attempts for just 30 yards.
Bossier’s leading ballcarrier was Quan Scott with 76 yards on 10 carries while Lewis gained 38 yards on 11 attempts.
Minden faces a tough Northwood Falcons team Friday at W.W. Williams Stadium in a crucial district contest. Both the Tide and Falcons stand at 4-1 in league play and have identical 7-1 season records.
Minden and Northwood have something else in common. Both teams’ only loss has come at the hands of current district leader North DeSoto. Minden lost to North DeSoto 42-0 while the Falcons dropped a 38-21 decision.