Once could be an anomaly, but Many dominated its second straight opponent to start the 2025 season in a 49-21 win against Class 4A DeRidder.
The Tigers (2-0) played smashmouth football en route to 368 rushing yards, overpowering the Dragons while limiting their own powerful rushing attack.
Many controlled its season-opener against a proud Logansport program that’s short on players, but to crush DeRidder in the way the Tigers did erases much of the doubt of what Many football would look like in the first season of coach Tyler Hassell.
“Physically, that was a big emphasis for us all week,” said Many coach Tyler Hassell. “The guys bought in during practice, and the key was really our preparation.
“We were physical from the first whistle, and that carried into the game. Both lines played with an edge up front, and that set the tone early.”
Now the Tigers face another Class 4A program in Leesville (0-2), a young team searching for its first win and searching for a little defense.
Leesville has allowed 44 points (Sam Houston) and 56 points (Tioga), albeit to two teams that primarily throw the football.
Many’s rushing attack will come downhill at the Wampus Cats, looking to create openings and control the clock.
It’s something the Tigers did well against DeRidder as Daniel Thomas rushed for 216 yards and three touchdowns on 25 attempts while Jonas Hendrickson piled up 174 yards and two scores on just nine touches (carries and catches).
But the turning point happened on defense as Many’s Rylan Lee hopped on a fumble and scored, breaking a 7-7 tie late in the first quarter.
That sparked 24 straight points from Many, building a 31-7 lead midway through the third quarter.
“That was a huge play that gave us a spark, got the sidelines fired up, and kind of flipped the tone early in the game,” Hassell said. “Anytime you can put points on the board with your defense, it’s a momentum changer.
“Our defense played with a lot of discipline. Even when DeRidder made a few plays late, we didn’t panic. We tackled well, covered well, and made them earn everything.”
DeRidder closed to 31-15 late in the third quarter, but Thomas answered quickly with a 61-yard touchdown sprint to put the game out of reach.
The Tigers have outscored their first two opponents 84-40, the same two opponents that pounded Many 83-7 in the first two games of last season in what was a harbinger to come for a group that didn’t win a game in 2024.
One thing the Tigers don’t have to worry about when they head to Leesville on Friday is the state’s single-season leading rusher in Xavier Ford (3,467 yards). Ford spearheaded an offense that outgunned Many in a 60-35 win this past season.
Now at the University of Minnesota, Ford’s absence has meant the Wampus Cats lean more heavily on quarterback Trel Bloom and his arm.
Bloom threw for 243 yards and three touchdowns in a 56-20 loss to Tioga in which the Indians scored the first 28 points of the game.