DERIDDER – Many’s trip south to face DeRidder took just more than an hour, but the Tigers didn’t need that long to leave any doubt about the outcome of Friday’s contest against the Dragons.
Many jumped out to a three-touchdown lead in the first half as they trounced DeRidder 50-7.
The top-ranked Class 2A squad piled up more than 300 rushing yards led by 100-yard rushers Jeremiah James and Tackett Curtis.
Many (2-0) scratched the scoreboard first in the opening quarter on a Jamarlyn Garner 3-yard touchdown run and a Curtis 38-yard run to cap off drives of 53 and 65 yards.
DeRidder (1-1) showed life at the end of the first quarter with a touchdown drive of their own to slice Many’s lead to 14-7, but the Tigers’ defense made sure the Dragons didn’t have any more smoke.
DeRidder’s scoring drive was helped by multiple Many defensive penalties.
Many held DeRidder, a Class 4A program who is a regular playoff participant, to 73 total yards, including just 48 rushing yards on 30 attempts.
“We played a complete game (Friday) … and I’m really happy where we are at right now,” said Many head coach Jess Curtis. “The defense was flying to the ball, and we controlled the game on offense.”
Many, which attempted just one pass (incomplete), gave the Dragons a heavy dose of its ground game.
James scored his first of three touchdowns with a 1-yard plunge before Curtis tacked on a 64-yard touchdown scamper as Many led 28-7 at halftime.
Curtis rushed for 110 yards and two touchdown on just three carries – all in the first half.
The Tigers wasted little time in the second half as a 40-yard kickoff return from Jayvion Smart set up a touchdown drive that culminated in a 3-yard James touchdown run. A Sean Mitcham conversion run put Many up 36-7.
Younger running backs Kentavious Maxie and Sylvonte Aldredge handled the load late as Aldredge found the end zone from two yards out. Trevor McLendon supplied a 20-yard run to aid the drive.
James added his third touchdown run in the final score of the night, a 3-yard score.
Defensively, big plays from Keaton Montgomery, Adam Miller, Swayze Carheel and Tylen Singleton destroyed upended any offense DeRidder attempted to put together.
Many will face their toughest test to date this coming week when Class 5A Haughton (2-0) comes to town.
Scoring Summary
First Quarter
5:56 M — Jamarlyn Garner 3-yd TD run. Deacon Lafollete kick, 7-0.
1:35 M — Tackett Curtis 38-yd TD run. Lafollette kick, 14-0.
0:03 D — 1 yd TD run, kick good 14-7.
Second Quarter
9:18 M — Jeremiah James 1-yd TD run. Kick blocked 20-7.
5:50 M — Curtis 64 yd TD run. James 2-pt conversion. 28-7.
Third Quarter
8:49 M — James 38 yd TD run. Mitcham 2-pt conversion 36-7.
5:35 M — Sylvonte Aldredge 2 yd TD run. Lafollette kick. 43-7.
Fourth Quarter
4:09 M — James 7 yd TD run. Lafollette kick. 50-7.
Individual Leaders
Passing
M – L.Booker 0-1
D – 1-5, 25
Rushing
M – James 17-117-3, Curtis 3-110-2, Garner 6-81-1, Adredge 10-42-1, McLendon 2-27, Maxie 5-4, Williams 2-3, Booker 2-(-6)
D – 30-48-1
Tackles
M – Carheel 5, Singleton 4, Curtis 3, Williams 3
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