.png)
Despite their nickname, the SA Wagner Thunderbirds like to spend over 90% of their time on the ground. The fact the Tigers are well-balanced on offense and display a stout defense seemed to indicate this would probably be a one-sided game. It did not disappoint in that thinking. The Tigers defense made an easy game easier by causing and getting three turnovers and forcing six punts to provide a short field all night. The passing attack made short work of the scoring with four passing TDs. James Montgomery had a mind-boggling night with 144 receiving yards and three TDs. Many times when a team has two talented receivers like Cooper Reid and Merrik Bloomgren, the opponents stack their defense to stymie them and if you have a third quality receiver, they get the opportunity to have a big night.
Wagner would get the ball first, get two FDs and punt. That would be as close as it got. The Tigers would march the ball 94 yards in 8 plays with a 14 yard pass from Chase Ames to Reid. Ian French made it 7-0. Kyle Daniel recovered a fumble on the first play at the 26. Jaceton Gotta took it in from the 16. 14-0. Three out and punt and 17 PR by Reid put ball on 18. This time Gotta put it in from the 11. 21-0.
Miles Kennedy recovered a fumble on the first play of the second quarter. Ames would hit Montgomery from the 22. 28-0. Following the Wagner punt Ames hit Montgomery on a 31 pass. EP missed. 340. That would be it for the half.
Tigers got the ball first and a 44 return by Ryder Frost put the Tigers at the 37. The Ames to Montgomery combo was good for 22 and the score. 41-0. On their next drive, Gage DeLos Santos jumped a pass and set a school record with an 84 interception return. Jack Miller made it 48-0. Following a punt, Mateo Perez weaved his way 63 yards for the score on the first play. 55-0. End of third quarter.
Next, the two coaches made the most expedient decision. They decided enough was enough and had a running clock for the fourth quarter.
Friday night, the Tigers will get another good test as they host the Killeen Harker Heights team. They have put a lot of points on their two opponents so far and gave the Tigers all they could handle last year. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m.
Game stats (DS first): First downs 20-13; Rushing 18-202, 45186; Passing 206-39; Passes 13-20-0, 5-10-1; Punts 1-33, 6-24; Penalties 2-10, 2-10; Turnovers 1, 3.
Ind. Tiger stats: Rushing: Gotta 6-70 2TD; Perez 1-63TD; Frank Accetta 6-49; Ryder Frost 3-23; Lawson Attaway 1-6; Bloomgren 1(-) 9. Passing: Ames 13-20206 4TD; Receiving: Montgomery 8-144 3TD; Bloomgren 2-28; Gotta 2-20; Reid 114TD; KOR: Frost 144; PR: Reid 2-34; Attaway 1-28; FR: Daniel, Kennedy; Int: DeLos Santos 1-84TD.
