The Red Raiders were roughed up by Malakoff 35-7 in one of the state’s most anticipated matchups Oct. 16 at Tiger Stadium.

The game featured two undefeated teams, both ranked in the top five statewide, with the outcome likely determining the District 7-3A Division I championship.

“Losing is not a very fun thing to be a part of. They have some very talented players and are well coached. And playing at Malakoff is a hard place to go,” Winnsboro head coach and boys athletic director Josh Finney said.

High winds disrupted elements of the Winnsboro attack, while Malakoff relied on its run-first offense.

“It seemed like every time we made a minor mistake, they found a way to capitalize each time. Our kids played hard and I am very proud of them. We had some leaders emerge through the night despite the loss. We need to learn from the mistakes we made and move on,” Finney said.

The Tigers scored on touchdown runs of 33, 5 and 5 yards to take a 21-0 lead into halftime. They added a 34yard touchdown run to open the second half. Quarterback Ky Caddell connected with wide receiver RJ Woodfaulk on a 24-yard touchdown pass to put the Raiders on the board with 10:13 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Malakoff added a 62-yard touchdown run with six minutes remaining to complete the scoring. An aggressive Tigers defense held the Red Raiders to 129 yards passing and 158 yards rushing, while windy conditions affected the kicking game.

Caddell passed for 129 yards and added 50 yards rushing. Neree Castleberry led the ground attack with 64 yards, while Kash Noble led receivers with three catches for 70 yards.

Marshal Bassett, Julian Moss and Cy Erickson turned in strong defensive performances. Bassett recorded nine tackles, including three for loss and a sack. Moss had eight tackles, including three for loss, broke up a pass and repeatedly pressured the quarterback. Erickson finished with seven tackles and a pass breakup.

The playoff picture is coming into focus with three weeks remaining in the regular season. If the district’s top teams hold their positions, Malakoff, Winnsboro, Commerce and Mount Vernon will advance to the bi-district round in the second week of November.

Mineola has not been officially eliminated from playoff contention, while Rains and Eustace will conclude their seasons Nov. 6. Winnsboro returns home Oct. 23 to host Mount Vernon in the Battle for Highway 37.

The annual rivalry matchup will feature a Mount Vernon team carrying a 2-1 district record following a home loss to Commerce last week.

The Purple Tigers favor the run but maintain a relatively balanced offensive attack.

“It will be important for us to focus this week and not let Mount Vernon sneak up on us. They are a good team, and we will need to be ready for a few of their trick plays. Mount Vernon players to watch include junior quarterback Jackson Grey, wide receivers Hunter Carroll and Brayden Baker, running back Brycen Fountain and defensive back Rylan Carrascosa,” said Finney.