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A sold out crowd of more than 8,000 showed up for the rival game between Dripping Springs and Lake Travis, both undefeated for the year. It has been a rivalry since LT split from DSISD in 1981. Electricity was in the air as everyone was expecting the fireworks of two explosive offenses. No one expected a low score. They discounted two very solid defenses that produced six turnovers to thwart any promising drives and two punters at their best. In the end, it was the LT defense that came up with the biggest last to help produce the winning score.
The punters forced the teams to have to go from beyond 60 yards on every drive. Even when they may be able to get a couple of first downs, the defenses still had time to force punts instead of scores. Probably the teams punted more times than they have had to all total. Mateo Perez, the DS punter, had one that travelled 68 yards to the one when a Tiger stopped it there. This punt represented the tenth best in the history of Tiger football.
The Tigers were able to stop Cavalier drives in the first half by forcing three turnovers. Liam Lawson was johnny-on-the spot twice to intercept passes and Major Bettridge pounced on a fumble after Colton Hanson ripped the ball out of the carriers arms. After the recovery, the Tigers moved the ball to the LT eleven before losing a fumble.
Dripping Springs took the second half kickoff and moved the ball methodically 75 yards on 15 plays with Lawson Attaway scoring from the six. Ian French made it 7-0 with 4.52 left in the quarter. LT started their own drive from the 25 but once again the Tiger defense stopped a fourth and one at the Tiger 22.
The LT first drive in the fourth was culminated with a four yard pass in the back of the endzone. With 8.14 left the game was tied 7-7. After an exchange of punts, Dripping Springs found themselves facing 90 yards to score with 3.58 left. Everyone was bracing for overtime. The Tigers were still thinking get close enough for a winning FG. Unfortunately, a Cavalier back stepped in front of the receiver at the 34 and returned it to the 15. Three plays later a short plunge gave LT the win. A DS fumble clinched it. It is blatantly obvious the passing game is severely handicapped with Cooper Reid and James Montgomery not on the field. Regardless, the Tigers fought hard to the very end and never gave up the effort. This will bode well for the game with Westlake and the playoffs.
Friday night the Tigers will host Del Valle for their last home game. Kickoff at 7:30pm.
Game stats (DS first): First downs 14-20; Rushing 41-118, 29-88; Passing 95-220; Passes 16-23-1, 23-36-2; Punts 7-45.1, 4-52; Penalties 6-45, 2-25; Turnovers 3-3.
Tiger stats: Rushing: Jaceton Gotta 20-78; Attaway 14-49TD; Ryder Frost 1-2; Frank Accetta 1- (-)1; Chase Ames 5- (-)10. Passing: Ames 16-23-1-95. Receiving: Merrick Bloomgren 7-48; Gotta 3-19, Harrison Rohrer 3-18, Bobby Wilkinson 1-4, Ronnie Fowlkes 14, Dodge Reid 1-2. PR: Judah Satterfield 1-7; KOR: Frost 1-12.
