Matt Vines
MANSFIELD – Sometimes there’s a clearly definable watershed moment in the trajectory of a program.
Mansfield football believes that moment was its 34-28 first-round playoff win against Marksville in which TJ Pegues plowed into the end zone with just 22 seconds left to secure the program’s first playoff victory since 2018.
That win culminated a run in which the Wolverines won six of eight contests before eventually bowing out against state power Sterlington (although Mansfield scored first in that 35-15 loss).
“The kids are very confident, and it’s hard to get that,” said coach Darrell Barbay, who finished his second year as Mansfield’s head coach. “You can go somewhere and tell them they are good, but until you win, it’s hard to have confidence.
“The road playoff win, getting through the schedule we had – the kids had a lot of confidence in this staff, and we had success.”
The Wolverines will be hard-pressed to replace the running back combination of TJ Pegues and Rykeelin Vanzant, but younger runners, an ever-improving quarterback in Shamal Booker, and a veteran offensive line should add up to another potent offense.
“Terrell Pegues was our third running back, and he can step up and be that guy along with three other running backs that give us depth,” Barbay said. “Booker has gotten a whole lot better this offseason after his first year as a varsity starter, and he’s got a lot of confidence in throwing the ball.
“He was a good game manager for us last year and didn’t turn the ball over much. He’s really taken steps forward in 7-on-7s this summer.”
Mansfield started 2023 with four losses, but near upsets of Huntington and Logansport proved the Wolverines could be a factor.
Mansfield went 4-1 in District 3-2A with its lone loss to state power Many.
The Wolverines played in a tri-spring game with Logansport and Red River, the latter in which Mansfield dismantled 43-20 in 2023.
“I really thought (the spring game) went pretty well,” Barbay said. “We moved the ball well, threw it pretty well, and I was impressed with our offensive line.
“The defense ran around the ball, and even though our secondary gave up a long scoring pass, a lot of those guys had been participating in track and field all spring. They’ve been playing better in 7-on-7s, which isn’t real football but it’s good for judging balls and getting your depth perception right.”
Mansfield’s non-district slate this coming season features tough Class 4A opponents like Northwood and Minden, but the Wolverines will also play against other 2A schools like Green Oaks and North Caddo, which will be a divergence from recent non-district schedules.