The Red Raiders bounced Mineola 58-21 on Oct. 30 at Meredith Memorial Stadium. The Yellowjackets matched Winnsboro's intensity through the first 23 minutes of action before Cy Erickson turned the tide with a 58-yard interception return for a touchdown with one second remaining in the first half. 

Winnsboro opened a 7-0 lead 53 seconds into the first quarter with a 42-yard pass from quarterback Ky Caddell to receiver Kash Noble. Mineola answered with a 44-yard pass from Braxton Moore to Beckham Bowker three minutes later. The Raiders went up 14-7 on a 46-yard run by Neree Castleberry. 

The Yellowjackets rang the bell on a 23-yard Moore-to-Braelyn Geremonte connection early in the second quarter to even the score at 14-14. It took Winnsboro 25 seconds to return the favor on Caddell's 90-yard keeper on the first play from scrimmage. 

The final minute of the first half was a scoring feast. Mineola scored on a 13-yard pass from Moore to Bowker that evened the score with 52 seconds remaining. Winnsboro pushed ahead on a 23-yard pass to Trenten Hill with 36 seconds to go. 

With Mineola near midfield and driving, Erickson's interception provided a 35-21 lead heading into the halftime locker room. 

“Mineola played mistake free in first half, and we had some turnovers that killed us. They have shown flashes on offense this year and Coach Moore had them going right at us in first half,” Winnsboro head coach and boys athletic director Josh Finney said. 

The Red Raiders were all gas, no brakes throughout the second half with touchdowns on a 1-yard run by Castleberry, a 42-yard keeper by Caddell and a 41-yard pass to Noble, along with a 20-yard field goal by Rudy Calderon. 

“We made some adjustments at halftime and got some things fixed. Offense had some firepower going on getting so many kids involved. We were able to score really fast and make some big-time plays,” Finney said. 

Statistically, Caddell completed nine of 13 passes for 175 yards and three touchdowns. Erickson accumulated 61 yards on two passes in relief. Caddell also recorded 153 yards rushing, followed by Castleberry with 146 yards. Noble led all receivers with 100 yards on three catches. 

Marshal Bassett led the Raiders with 12 tackles, including three solo. Chance Arrington recorded 10 tackles, and Erickson and Kainan Moss posted eight tackles each. 

On Mineola's stat sheet, Moore threw for 200 yards and three scores. Geremonte posted 116 yards rushing, and Bowker added 88 receiving yards. Riggen Smith led the defensive effort with nine tackles and a fumble recovery. 

Looking at the postseason possibilities 

With one game remaining on the District 7-3A Division I schedule, the field is set for the bi-district round. Malakoff (5-0 district record), Winnsboro (4-1), Commerce (4-2) and Mount Vernon (3-2) will head into the postseason. Mineola (1-4), Rains (1-4) and Eustace (0-5) will wrap up their 2026 campaigns Nov. 6. 

Malakoff hosts Mount Vernon, Winnsboro hosts Rains, and Mineola plays at Eustace in Week 11 action. 

The District 8-3A Division I field remains in flux through the district finales. Atlanta (4-0), Liberty-Eylau (3-1), Tatum (3-1) and Gladewater (2-2) have punched their tickets to the next level. In Week 11 contests, Gladewater hosts Atlanta and Tatum hosts Liberty-Eylau to determine postseason seeding. 

“We need to stay focused and injury free. We will draw Tatum or Liberty Eylau for the first round of the playoffs,” Finney said.