Nerd Notes-Minden/Leesville
Written by Mark Chreene on December 3, 2020
After last week’s win over John F. Kennedy, the Minden Crimson Tide find themselves in the Regional round of the playoffs for the first time since 2016. This week’s edition of “Nerd Notes” might be more playoffs in general than in the opponent, Leesville. So, here we go…
- Minden and Leesville have met twice, with the series tied at 1 game each. Minden lost the first game in 1962, 26-13 and won the rematch in 1963, on their way to a state championship, 39-19. Both games were played in the week 2 of the season.
- Interesting side note, Leesville’s long time rival, DeRidder was one of the opponents that Minden defeated in the playoffs in 1963, 27-0, before playing Larose-Cutoff in the state championship.
- With this the start of a new decade, it is the first time that Minden has won a playoff game at the start of a decade since the state championship season of 1980, when the Tide went 4-0. Minden did not make playoffs in 1990 or 2000 and lost their only playoff game in 2010 to O.P. Walker.
- This season marks Minden’s 7th consecutive season of reaching the post season, the longest in team history. Previous best was 5 straight from 1985-1989. A close second was 4 straight from 2008-2011.
- Minden hasn’t played a lot of second round games over the years. The last being 2016 as I mentioned earlier. Other years reaching the second round were 2015, 2011, 2006, 1981, 1980*, 1963*, 1956*, 1954*, 1938*, and 1921. (*State Champions)
- Minden’s all-time playoff record, including last week’s win, is 29-31. The best record by decade is a 5-1 mark in the 1950s, 2-0 in the 1930s, and 9-6 mark in the 1980s.
- Minden does hold one unique distinction in LHSAA history. They are the last high school to win a state championship in football on their home field. The 12-6 win over Washington in 1980 was the only home team of any class that won that playoff season. The LHSAA would move all games to the Superdome beginning in 1981, which Minden narrowly missed, losing to St. Martinville 16-7. Ironically, it was the same score Minden beat them by the previous year, also in the state semi-finals. Bonus note: Minden also beat Washington in the 1981 playoffs as well.
- While Minden has won 5 state championships in school history in football, only the 1963 season was an undefeated season. In 1954 and 1980, Minden championship teams both had 2 losses.
Lots of playoff notes, but hopefully the biggest will be if the Tide wins on Friday, it will be the first time to host a quarterfinal game since 2016.