MANY – The Many football team returns to the friendly confines of the John W. Curtis Tiger Stadium as the Tigers aim to get back to their winning ways after a 1-3 start.
But what awaits Many is not friendly at all as an explosive Leesville offense rolls into town Friday.
The Class 4A Wampus Cats (3-1) feature veteran quarterback Trel Broom and valuable weapons in running back Grant Braxton and receiver Julius Brown.
They pace a Leesville offense that’s averaging 36 points per game, although Leesville leaned more on its defense in a 28-24 win over Class 5A Pineville.
Broom (5,325 career yards) and Brown (104 career catches) both rank third all-time on Leesville’s career charts in those respective categories, according to “Leesville Wampus Cat Football History.”
But Brown wasn’t even the top target Friday as Jaylen James (6-123 TD) and Dylan Absher (6-93 TD) led the way.
Many did contain Broom and air attack this past season, but Braxton rushed for 156 yards and five touchdowns en route to a 48-15 Leesville win.
A young Many defense this season is coming along with a combined 38 points allowed in the past two games after giving up 93 in the first two contests.
But the Tigers couldn’t stop Catholic-Pointe Coupee momentum after Many turnovers, which led to two touchdowns as part of 25 straight points in the first half of a 32-14 Many loss.
Many can’t afford to turn the ball over and give Leesville’s bunch a short field as the Tigers work to improve in playing complementary football (where offense, defense, and special teams put other in advantageous positions).
Running back Daniel Thomas isn’t slowing down as his 200 rushing yards against Catholic-Pointe Coupee marks the third time he eclipsed the 200-yard mark through the first four games.
While Many quarterback Luke McCarty arguably had his best game of the season (31 passing yards on 3-of-6 with an interception), the Tigers will likely need some kind of a viable passing threat to prevent Leesville from keying on Thomas and backfield mate J.J. Stills.
The 2025 Many group endured a 2-3 start to win three of its last five regular season games, and a win against Leesville could certainly serve as a turning point to the 2026 season.