Tiger football pounds Juan Navarro Vikings

It is not much fun playing district games, as most represent glorified football scrimmages. The 46-0 pounding score against the Juan Navarro Vikings (Lanier) is an example. The team nor players get to revel in their victory or playing time because of the expected results. When you play an out-manned team, neither team really gets to enjoy it. Except for two fumbles, the Tigers would have scored every time they took possession and that was playing literally everyone for much of the game. Some starters did not play and others very limited. To prevent minimal damage in the second half, the running clock was instituted.

The Tigers kicked off and forced a punt. Five plays later Preston Alford capped the 5-play, 51 drive with a 13 run. Coleman Chapman made it 7-0. An Austin Hulon 22 interception return put the ball on the 47. An Alford to PJ Howe catch and run covered the 53 on the second play. 14-0. Another punt put the Tigers 54 yards away. Tyler Herron pounded the ball in from the one to end the six-play drive. 21-0. Still in the first quarter.

Pierce Walker came down with an interception to give the Tigers the ball on the 37. It was a prolonged 12-play drive that went into the second quarter. However, as Cameron O'Banan headed for the goal line from the five, the ball squirted from his grasp and bounded into the endzone where a Navarro player fell on it for a touchback. Three and out and back to work for the Tigers. Ethan Hooks took it 39 to the six and Julian Wright took it in from there. 28-0. Another short drive began at the 34. Ryan Kimball got in on the scoring from the ten. 35-0. Chance Wylie came up with a fumble and Desi de la Cruz was true from 31 out to make it 38-0. A Kimball interception and a lost fumble ended the half.

Second half went fast. Hunter Miller scored from the three. The EP snap was off with Hooks taking the ball and hitting Luke Lawyer in the endzone for two. 46-0. The Tigers took most of the fourth quarter to drive down to the seven before kneeling the clock out.

Tomorrow night the Tigers will be hosting the Seguin Matadors in a game that will be worth watching. Both are undefeated in district play. The Tigers will be trying to avenge an OT loss last year. A win puts the Tigers in and a loss will leave it up to LBJ, like last year, to beat Seguin for a tie.

Team stats (DS first): First downs: 24-2; Rushing: 44-263, 21-10; Passing: 162-35; Passes: 10-19-0, 4-16-3; Punts: 1-24, 5-31.6; Penalties: 1-5, 2-10; Fumbles lost: 3-3, 1-2.

Tiger stats: Rushing: Miller 10-68 TD; Hooks 6-52; Alford 2-27 TD; Kelby Rowe 3-27; Kimball 2-22 TD; Herron 3-19 TD; Zach Tjelmeland 1-13; Wright 8-10 TD; Wyatt Leschber 1-8; O'Banan 2-6; Cade Weiderhold 1-3; Dylan Nielsen 2-3; Brodie Dyer 1-4; Charlie Pouland 2-1. Passing: Alford 3-4-73 TD; O'Banan 4-10-57; Wright 3-5-32. Receiving: Howe 2-67 TD; Logan Neef 2-21; Pouland 2-21; Dyer 1-21; Shelby Hudson 1-15; Carter Williams 1-12; Tjelmeland 1-5.

Tackling (unassist/asst): Hunter Northrup 4-2; Keith Teague 3-0; Cole Scott 3-0; Hulon 2-1; Liam Dahl 1-2; Wylie 0-3; Colby Collins 1-1; Jakob Joy 1-1; Garland Hodges 2-0; Sergio Sanchez 1-1; Hunter Pierpoint 2-0; Grey Patterson 1-1; Nathan Erickson 1-1; Leschber 0-2; Garrett Betts 1-0; Lawyer 1-0; Wes Dube 1-0; Carson Hans 1-0; Brock Bollinger 0-1; Jeremy Hack 0-1;Colby White 0-1.