Grant starts district play with winning record
Grant continued a trend of non-district winning records when the Cougars cruised to a 46-8 win against Bolton Academy this past week.
The Cougars improved to 3-2, and for the fourth straight season, have a winning record heading into district play.
But Grant hopes to reverse its lack of district success in recent seasons when the Cougars host Peabody (2-3) on Friday at 7 p.m.
Grant hasn’t won a district games in the two seasons since moving up to Class 4A, posting 0-4 district marks in each of those seasons.
In fact, Grant has won just two district games dating back to 2020, both coming in District 2-3A in 2021.
Grant will be relieved to not see state power Neville on the other sideline (moved up to Class 5A), but the likes of Franklin Parish (4-1) and West Ouachita (5-0) won’t make finding wins easy.
Peabody certainly is no slouch despite the losing record.
The Warhorses have won the last two contests, dispatching of Franklin (47-22) and Washington-Marion (37-12) easily.
Grant held Bolton Academy (0-5) to fewer than 100 yards as the defense allowed a season-low eight points. Outside of giving up 52 to D’Arbonne Woods Charter, Grant has held every other opponent to 23 points or less.
The Cougars offense has found its stride recently, scoring at least 30 points in each of its last three games.
Montgomery starts district play with legit title hopes
Trailing 19-0, Montgomery stared down the barrel of Lakeside’s offense as the Warriors were knocking on the goal line door again.
But the Tigers forced a fumble and marched the length of the field, sparking a run that closed the gap of an eventual 26-22 loss.
Montgomery got within 19-14 before Lakeside converted a third-and-22 that led to a touchdown for a 26-14 edge.
A final Tigers touchdown closed the gap to four points, but Lakeside picked up a few first downs to run out the clock on Montgomery’s comeback attempt.
It’s the first time Lakeside (5-0) had been pushed this season after winning its first four games by least 16 points or more.
For Montgomery (2-3), it’s the third loss by four points or less.
The Tigers start District 3-1A play this week when they host Northwood-Lena at 7 p.m.
The Gators (2-3) are showing improvement this season, logging wins against Pickering (28-7) and Tensas (52-0) and scored 20 points in a loss to Lakeside.
But a Montgomery squad with hopes of a district title should be able to pull away from the visitors.
The district title conversation still begins with Logansport and St. Mary’s, who meet this week to start league play.
But a Tigers squad that virtually returns everybody from a team that hosted a first-round playoff game this past season should figure into the equation.
Both Logansport (2-2) and St. Mary’s (2-3) have shown cracks in the armor, including a St. Mary’s squad that lost to Red River and fell 50-0 this past week against St. Frederick.
Montgomery wants to insert itself as a contending horse in this race, and a strong showing this week should catapult the Tigers into the district death row of Logansport and St. Mary’s in the next two weeks.