by Malcolm Butler
Measuring stick.
It’s a term used plenty when talking about a program on the rise facing an already established top tier team.
Tonight’s contest between No. 1 ranked Haynesville (6-0, 3-0) and Cedar Creek (4-2, 2-0) in District 1-1A action is the proverbial measuring stick for the Cougars.
“When you face a team like Haynesville, it is a great measuring stick,” said head coach Jacob Angevine. “We do have a lot of young guys. So I am not sure if putting the pressure of using the term of a measuring stick just yet, but it’s more like, ‘Hey, this is where we want to be and this is what it looks like.’
“Haynesville is the example of what we want our program to be one day.”
Kickoff form Red Franklin Stadium is 7:30 p.m. and the game can be heard on 99.3 FM with Ray Creasy and Ben Haddox providing a call of the game.
Haynesville’s closest game this year is a 42-14 victory over Harmony Grove (Ark.) High School as the Golden Tornado’s have outscored their six opponents 303-39; an average of 50.5 to 6.5. It’s most recent win was a 43-0 decision over Jonesboro-Hodge.
“Haynesville is a really good football team,” said Angevine. “They are disciplined. They have a lot of older guys. They are playing in the Dome or making it at least to the semifinals every year, so you know what type of program they are.
“They have a great tradition. I respect Coach Franklin and everything he has done. They are what we are trying to be. So to eventually be at that level, we have to try to beat them. I am glad they are in our district and we get to see them each year during the regular season. Our kids get to see what a storied program is.”
Cedar Creek is coming off a 60-6 win over Plain Dealing last week and the Cougars have already established that they are a team to be reckoned with this year.
Senior Trigger Woodard knows the Cougars have to be at their best tonight in order to have a chance in the fourth quarter.
“Haynesville is a great team,” said Woodard. “We have to execute the X’s and the O’s. We have to play as hard as we can. We have to take care of our assignments, and just play the best we can as a team.”
After struggling to score last year, Cedar Creek is averaging 36.2 points per game in 2025 and have scored 30 or more points in four of their six contests.
