Running back Daniel Thomas scorched the Winnfield defense for six touchdowns on a career night Friday as Many fended off a second-half surge in a 66-40 win.
Thomas scored Many’s last four touchdowns as he supplied the offense to keep an explosive Winnfield (2-5, 0-1 District 3-2A) bunch at bay.
“Daniel is a talented individual and the heart of their program,” said Winnfield coach Byron Keller. “He runs hard and is tough to tackle.”
Leading 35-12 after a 33-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Kellen Cox to Camdyn Bell, Many (4-3, 2-0) needed to withstand Winnfield comeback attempt.
Winnfield running back Detavious Williams rushed for a score and then returned an interception for a touchdown, before the visiting Tigers turned a Many fumble into a Nickalas Mockosher 43-yard scoring pass.
And just like that, Winnfield was within one score late in the third quarter.
But Many had the answer, scoring three straight touchdowns (all Thomas runs).
“It says a lot about their maturity and resilience,” said Many coach Tyler Hassell, who served on Keller’s staff at Red River in 2024. “We completed a big pass early in the fourth quarter that settled us down. We’ve talked all year about staying composed in the moment, and that third quarter really tested us. But our guys didn’t flinch. They leaned on each other, trusted the game plan, and responded the right way. That’s what good teams do, they answer when their backs are against the wall. I’m very proud of their resilience.”
Many has won its two district games by a combined 69 points.
Nobody is expecting a walk in the park when the Tigers head to Coushatta to face defending district champion Red River (3-4, 1-1).
The Bulldogs are desperate to stay in the title race after a district-opening loss to Mansfield, and another loss would completely eliminate Red River from contention and possibly put their playoff hopes at risk as well.
Third-year starting quarterback Malique Smith is thriving under the more open offensive system of first-year coach Travis Gary, and there’s no shortage of weapons with players like Warren Bowman, Cedric Moody and Lathyn Lewis.
“Red River’s always got athletes, and with that quarterback, you can see the experience,” Hassell said. “He’s calm in the pocket, doesn’t force much, and he’s got good timing with his receivers. They spread you out, they play fast, and they can hurt you in a hurry if you’re undisciplined. We’ve got to communicate well in the secondary and get pressure without sacrificing our coverage. It’ll be a big test.”
Many’s offense has proven capable of punching opponents in the mouth from its traditional I-formation, and they’ll want to do the same against a younger Red River defense.
Many has scored at least 35 points in all four of its wins while Red River has allowed 36 or more points three times.
The Tigers’ defense has also had its struggles at times with 39 or more points allowed in four games.
It’s Red River’s homecoming, and a homecoming of sorts for Hassell as he returns to face the program he helped win its first district title since 2005.
“We are looking forward to this matchup!” Hassell said. “We’re expecting a big crowd and a great atmosphere. It’s always fun to compete against coaches you’ve worked with and to see athletes you’ve coached on the other sideline.”
Many’s name is on the vast majority of those district titles, which included a 39-game district winning streak that was snapped in the 2024 winless season.