By Gray Haynes
The 2026 edition of The Battle for the Boot took place on a balmy night but a hot contest at Baucum-Farrar Stadium in Springhill, with Minden coming out on top 20-14.
Minden took the opening kickoff of the game and marched down the field and scored on a 28 yard pass from Kaiden King to Jaden Johnson. The PAT attempt was no good making the score 6-0 in favor of the visitors. North Webster took the ensuing kickoff out to the 33 where they began the night on offense. After a 1 yard gain on 1st down, Braylon Washington took the ball on the second play. He scampered around the right side for a 66 yard rushing touchdown. The PAT was good, giving the lead to the home team with 7:30 left in the first quarter. Minden brought the kickoff out to their own 43 to begin their second drive. A long run took the ball down to the Knights’ 20 yard line. A few plays later, King again found Johnson for a 20 yard passing touchdown. The two-point conversion attempt was no good to make the score 12-7 Minden. The kickoff bounced out of bounds to give North Webster the ball on the 35. The Knights could get nothing going and punted on 4th and 10. Minden took over on their own 39. The Crimson Tide picked up a couple of first downs and stalled out. Ja’Kayden Jackson returned the Tide punt, for the Knights, out to the 28 yard line. The two teams ended the first quarter trading punts.
Early in the 2nd quarter, the Knights punted from deep in their own territory. Minden took over with great field position and were moving the ball toward the Knights’ endzone until Jardin Gill intercepted a pass on the North Webster 30 and returned it up the left side line into the north endzone for a touchdown for the Knights. The PAT was good to make the score 14-12 in favor of North Webster. Neither team could get anything going offensively for the rest of the half. The half ended with the score 14-12 in favor of the Knights.
The Knights received the second half kickoff and, promptly, fumbled on their own 42 yard line. The two teams traded punts until Johnson scored from the backfield on a 60 yard run around the right side into the south end zone. The two point conversion was good making the score 20-14 with 3:52 left in the 3rd quarter.
The rest of the game was a combination of punts and players cramping up from exhaustion in the sweltering heat. Neither team looked especially crisp in the opening game of the season which is to be expected. The 2026 version of the Battle for the Boot again went to the visiting team with the Louisiana National Guard presenting the trophy to the Crimson Tide. Next week, the Knights travel to Shreveport to face the Green Oaks Giants.
