COLUMBIA — For the first time since 2023, Caldwell’s football team has won an LHSAA postseason game.
The Spartans saw a familiar opponent in Richwood as the two teams played each other in the Division III nonselect first round for the third time in four seasons. The Rams defeated Caldwell in last fall’s playoffs, but the Spartans also bested Richwood in 2023 and pitched a shutout earlier this season as well.
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Behind three rushing touchdowns from junior quarterback Bridger McCann and the defense forcing key takeaways in the second half, Caldwell completed the season sweep against Richwood with its 30-12 victory on Friday, Nov. 13, at Spartan Stadium.
“I’m just excited for the boys,” Caldwell coach Cleo Head said. “Anytime you play a team twice, and a team as athletic as Richwood is, they can score quick. The defense played hard. They continued to fight all night long, and my kids just never laid down.”
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Caldwell (9-2) has been one of northeast Louisiana’s hottest teams with five straight victories. It’s won twice as many games this fall than it has the last two seasons combined. The Spartans’ only losses of the season, against Mangham and Union Parish, were decided by one possession.
Some of Caldwell’s biggest victories were its season opener against Grant and its 14-point fourth quarter comeback three weeks ago against Oak Grove.
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“I would say as a brotherhood, we’ve gotten closer,” McCann said on Caldwell’s growth. “Those past years, we weren’t quite together and connected as we were. This year, I think everybody on the team is playing for one goal, and that’s playing for each other to win.”
After playing running back, McCann is continuing to step up in his first year as starting quarterback. In addition to his three rushing touchdowns against Richwood (5-6), he threw the game-winning touchdown pass to sophomore Jahari Stanley to beat Oak Grove.
“I knew I was going to take on the job of running the ball a lot,” Bridger said of his new role. “(Against Richwood) with the weather, I didn’t pass that (well), but I was able to use my running back abilities to get the job done.”
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“Anytime the coaches challenge him, or he has a challenge in the game, he just keeps on stepping up,” sophomore Blayne Dunn said. “He does everything in his ability to move the ball downfield and score and command his offense well.”
Richwood got on the board late in the game as senior Jarvis Walker connected with junior Christopher Qualls. Walker then threw his second touchdown pass of the evening to sophomore Pooh Pollard but was intercepted on the Rams’ prior drive by junior Lander McCann.
“I was expanding to the flats more and reading the quarterback’s eyes and trust what my coaches teaches me to do,” Lander McCann said of the interception.
No. 10 Caldwell looks forward to the opportunity of traveling to No. 7 Pine for the second round of the D-III nonselect playoffs. The Raiders (9-2) ride a seven-game win streak and defeated Many 49-21 to move on.
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The Spartans will soak up this special victory against Richwood as they continue one of their best seasons of recent memory.
“Our eyes were set on Richwood and Richwood only,” Head said. “Offensively, we’re going to do what we’re going to do (moving forward). We’re going to line up, we’re going to run the ball, we’re going to play hard-nosed defense and we’re going to hit you in the mouth. Just rely on our kids and never quitting.”
This article originally appeared on Monroe News-Star: Caldwell football sweeps Richwood in first playoff win in three years
