Every Logansport unit got in on the fun Friday in a 44-12 win against Bossier.
Tonashton Bland blocked a punt for a touchdown in addition to rushing for two scores, while defensive lineman Pacer Williams got in the end zone on a fumble return.
Bland scored on touchdown runs of 22 and 81 yards, respectively, as Logansport rolled up 260 yards on the ground and 339 total.
The Tigers returned to their Week 1 selves in a rout of Many (46-7) after struggling to establish the ground game against Loyola (28-6 loss) this past week.
The defense suffocated Bossier, which gained just 96 yards on the night and committed four turnovers (three lost fumbles and a Jordan Meshell interception).
Logansport will focus on themselves during the Week 4 bye as the finishing touches are being put on the renovation of its home football stadium.
That stadium will be rocking when Kinder visits on Oct. 4.
North DeSoto’s tough tests continue against Northwood
North DeSoto no doubt missed receiver Cory Cole, the state’s leading pass catcher in 2023 who suffered a knee injury that will force him to miss significant time if not the rest of his senior season.
But the Griffins traded blows early with Class 5A power West Monroe, tying the score 14-14 on a Chaz Martinez 39-yard touchdown catch from Luke Delafield.
Things unraveled over the next few minutes of the 63-14 Rebels win when West Monroe scored a go-ahead touchdown and recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff.
That series of plays sparked 49 straight points for the Rebels.
The Griffins (1-2) have faced a brutal non-district schedule to date with the Union Parish win (33-21) and losses to Center (35-28) and now West Monroe.
North DeSoto, who dropped four spots to No. 6 in the LSWA Class 4A poll, will get arguably its stiffest District 1-4A test right off the bat when Northwood comes to town this week.
The Falcons (3-0) are certainly less tested, but they did engineer a comeback to top Class 5A Benton (24-21) in the opener.
But Northwood has flashed its offensive explosiveness in wins against Peabody (47-21) and Mansfield (64-32).
The scoreboard operator may want to stretch his fingers beforehand because this one will likely be an octane-filled affair.
The Griffins certainly don’t want to start their season 1-3, but Friday’s Northwood contest carries more importance than just being the district opener.
Northwood may be the last team on the schedule that could seriously push North DeSoto for four quarters.
While Minden and Loyola are building nice resumes so far this season, the other four teams in the district have a combined four wins with Green Oaks being the most quality win of the bunch.
Mansfield built double-digit lead against Northwood in loss
Mansfield appeared to be doing everything right as the Wolverines built a two-touchdown lead at Class 4A Northwood.
That lead didn’t hold in the eventual 64-32 loss, but the Wolverines continue to send the message that they are an improved football program that can punch up in weight.
Mansfield might just be 1-2, but the Wolverines probably feel they should have come out with a win in double overtime against Minden, who is shaping up to be one of the better teams in District 1-4A.
The Wolverines head down to Lake Charles College Prep looking to even their record.
LCP (0-3) may not have a win, but they’ve played a loaded schedule with losses to Westgate (31-20), Barbe (34-28) and state champion Opelousas (27-12).
Mansfield’s tackling will need to be better as the Wolverines struggled to bring down Northwood’s bulky running backs. The Falcons rushed for 325 yards and threw for another 159.
Leading by 11 points, Northwood blocked a punt for a touchdown that essentially sealed the win and started the real scoring separation.
Mansfield had plenty of bright spots offensively as quarterback Sharmal Booker continues to improve each week. He threw for 160 yards on 12-of-19 passing.
The Wolverines earned the 217 rushing yards they amassed (4.1 yards per carry) with Terrell Pegues leading the way (131 yards and a score on 24 touches).
Pegues caught three passes for 39 yards (one touchdowns) and added a 25-yard completion to his tally.
Jeremy Youngblood led the receiving corps with 60 yards on five catches.