By Matt Vines

The Winnfield football team overcame its mistakes as they powered past Jonesboro-Hodge in a season-opening win.

But the Tigers couldn’t repeat that feat against a more stout Caldwell Parish bunch in Week 2, falling in 21-12 fashion.

The Spartans (1-1) scored the first two touchdowns and limited the Winnfield (1-1) offense to stave off a Tigers comeback.

“(Caldwell Parish coach Cleo Head) and his staff had a good plan to start the game offensively,” said Winnfield coach Byron Keller. “After seeing it and making our adjustments, we were able to get some three-and-outs and stop their drives.”

Caldwell Parish gained 285 yards (101 passing, 187 rushing) while Winnfield yards (97 passing and 133 rushing).

The Tigers will attempt to knock off Class 4A West Ouachita (1-1) on Friday, and Winnfield can’t make the same mistakes against a bigger, deeper Chiefs’ squad.

“We cannot make the same mistakes every week,” Keller said. “We have to correct those mistakes and not make them anymore.

“We have to win all three phases of the game, and we only won special teams against Caldwell Parish.”

Special teams was a critical phase this past week as Craig St. Cyr returned a kickoff about 90 yards for a touchdown.

Winnfield managed only one offensive score in the game, something that will have to be more productive against a West Ouachita bunch that dropped 62 points on Jonesboro-Hodge in a 62-13 win.

Winnfield also corralled J-Hodge to the tune of 28-6 in the opener.

The West Ouachita game starts the most difficult three-game stretch on Winnfield’s schedule, which includes home dates with Jena and Bunkie in the upcoming weeks.