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Photos courtesy of Cortni Reid
Chase Ames threw for 275 yards and two touchdowns.
Photos courtesy of Cortni Reid
The Tiger faithful showed up ready to cheer.
Photos courtesy of Cortni Reid
Colten Tripp guards Vista Ridge’s Kieran Paegle.
Photos courtesy of Cortni Reid
The Tigers beat Vista Ridge 38-14.
Photos courtesy of Cortni Reid
The Tiger defense stood strong and held Vista Ridge to only two touchdowns, only one in each half.
The score did not indicate the possible difficulty of the win over the Vista Ridge Rangers. Many are getting used to one-sided games by the Tigers, but we are in the playoff season and opponents cannot be taken lightly. Vista Ridge was one of those teams. The game was indicative as to what makes the difference in how a game turns out. The Rangers had to be limping around after the game due to the many times they shot themselves in the foot. The Tiger defense caused four turnovers and the Rangers added nine penalties that usually nullified big plays. The Tigers were error-free and again dominated the fourth quarter.
The Tiger defense showed the Rangers it was going to be a long night after the kickoff. They forced a three and out. The Tigers made it look easy as they moved 67 yards in three plays on a 58 run by Jaceton Gotta. Ian French again perfect on PATs. 7-0 with 9.45 remaining. There would be no more scoring until late in the half.
On the Tigers last drive of the half, they marched 83 yards in eight plays to score on a 36 pass from Chase Ames to James Montgomery. They left only 1.05 on the clock but it was enough as Vista Ridge scored on a pass in nine plays with five seconds to spare. 14-7 at half.
The Tigers could not move the ball starting the second half and were forced to punt. The ball hit a Ranger and Nate Martinez was there to collect it on the 29. Gotta ran the ball in from the three to score. 21-7. Only score in the third.
Early in the fourth, the Tigers were stopped and French drilled the 35 FG. Later the Ames to Cooper Reid combo was good for two TDs from 12 and 56. Vista Ridge managed a late score.
The win put the Tigers in the Area game with SA Harlan. The undefeated Harlan team is a rematch of last year’s area game in which Harlan eliminated the Tigers 55-14. Should not be any reason to take this game lightly. The game will be played in the SA Alamo Stadium Friday night. At press time kickoff time had not been determined.
Game stats (DS first): First downs 22-21; Rushing 24-119, 27-105; Passing 306-312; Passes 24-36-0; 24-45-3; Punts 5-32.8, 3-32.7; Penalties 5-65, 9-95; Turnovers 0, 4.
Tiger stats: Rushing: Gotta 11-91 2TD; Lawson Attaway 4-44; Ryder Frost 1-4; Pete Fredenburg 3-(-) 3; Ames 5-(-)17. Passing: Ames 23-308 3TD; Logan Keim 1-1 (-) 2; Fredenburg 0-1. Receiving: Montgomery 8-114TD; Merrick Bloomgren 7-52; Reid 5-119 2TD; Gotta 4-21. Int: Malachi Igharo 2; Liam Lawson. KOR: Frost 1-21.
