By Pat Culverhouse
Kaiden King tossed a pair of touchdown passes, Jardon Carey rushed for 112 yards and Jaiden Johnson scored all three Crimson Tide touchdowns to lead Minden to a season-opening 20-14 win over parish rival North Webster Friday.
King opened the scoring for the Tide, hitting Jaiden Johnson in stride for a 27-yard TD strike with 8:25 to go in the opening quarter. A failed PAT left Minden up 6-0.
Knights’ quarterback Braylon Washington didn’t let that lead last long, scampering 66 yards to paydirt on North Webster’s second play from scrimmage. Less than a minute after Minden’s score, the Knights led 7-6 after a successful point after.
King and Johnson hooked up again on a 19-yard TD pass just moments after the Knights’ score. The score was set up by a King 38-yard burst, putting the Tide in scoring position just two plays later. A failed two-point try left Minden up 12-7 with 19 seconds left in the first quarter.
North Webster’s defense put the next points on the board in the second quarter when the Chandler McKenzie picked of a King pass and rumbled 70 yards to the end zone. Another successful PAT had the Knights up 14-12 at the half.
Minden missed a scoring opportunity when the Tide jumped on a Knights’ fumble at the North Webster 27-yard-line early in the third quarter. A personal foul penalty and two unsuccessful runs forced a punt to end the chance.
Johnson put Minden in the lead for good with 3:52 left in the third when he shook off a couple of tacklers and sped 60 yards for a touchdown. King’s two-point pass was good and the Tide was ahead 20-14.
A tough Tide defense held North Webster at bay through the fourth quarter, and a final Tide drive ate the remaining 3:34 off the game clock to hold the final margin.
Carey’s 112 yards rushing led all players for the game, and Johnson’s only cary earned him 60 yards on the ground. Johnson also hauled in six passes for 97 yards and two touchdowns. King had 52 yards on seven carries and went 12-of-25 for 134 yards through the air.
North Webster was led by Washington’s 90 yards on 16 carries, followed by Justin Stewart with 25 yards on 10 attempts. Steward also completed seven passes in 17 attempts worth 68 yards.
Minden will meet Homer at W.W. Williams Stadium Friday, while North Webster travels to Green Oaks.
