Tiger football whitewashes Crocket Cougars

The 40-0 football whitewashing of the Crockett Cougars by the Dripping Springs Tigers in the last regular season home game can best be described as a chamber of commerce night. It was senior night. The quality of the opponent allowed the coach to substitute early and often, knowing each player would have success at what they were doing. It would keep the fans happier and the parents would get to watch their kid play instead of just watching the game. It allowed seldom used players to get stats. Since these games have been numerous this season the question is whether the starters have been getting enough work in those games to have them ready to play 48 hard minutes because the playoffs will provide that type opponent. Time will tell.

The Tigers would score on eight of their nine possessions, splitting the scoring evenly between touchdowns and field goals. Crockett put up little serious opposition against any of the Tigers on the field. A three and out started the game and the Tigers took over on the 46 to make their first score in five plays. Preston Alford passed them to the 25 and then took it in from the 20. Coleman Chapman toed his first of four EPs. Another short punt gave the Tigers a short field from the 48. When the drive stalled at the six, Desi de la Cruz split the uprights from 23 out and that 10-0 lead would hold up through the first quarter.

Crockett would get their only first down of the first half but still had to punt. A 15 penalty following a 24 PR by Andres Flores-Perry pushed the Tigers back to the DS 43. Never mind. The runs of Tyler Herron and the passing of Julian Wright took them to the eleven where a Wright to Cameron O'Banan pass covered the final distance, making it 17-0. Another short field at the 47 took eight plays culminated by a 6-yard dash into the endzone by Curtis Cox. 24-0. A penalty stymied the Tigers on their next possession at the 31. The Tigers faced a pretty good North wind but the decision was to have de la Cruz give it a shot. He wisely drilled a low trajectory ball through the upright. The 48 FG was two yards longer than the 46 record held since 1995 by Ray Leverett. Kelby Rowe pounded the ball in from the one just before the half for 34-0 halftime lead.

Only a field goal in each quarter was produced in the second half. De la Cruz had a 39 and another 23. Those four in a game set another school record. Finally, a running clock for the fourth was used. After all, the most important event of the night, senior walk, had to be held after the game.

Tomorrow night the Tigers (9-1) will face their second season when they host the Manor Mustangs (5-5) in a bi-district rematch from last year. Manor, given a chance in preseason to be a contender for the district title, has some quick-score talent that will have to be contained. Kickoff will be at 7:30pm.

Game stats (DS first): First downs: 19-4; Rushing: 38-226, 25-35; Passing: 121-40; Passes: 12.23-0, 8-16-1; Punts: 1-34.0, 7-27.3; Penalties: 6-40, 2-20.

DS stats: Rushing: Herron 9-56; O'Banan 3-48; Cox 6-35 TD; Hunter Miller 4-24; Rowe 5-22 TD; Alford 1-20 TD; Wright 5-14; Cade Harkrider 1-6; Ethan Hooks 3-1; Cade Weiderhold 1-0. Passing: Alford 4-8-57; O'Banan 5-8-41; Wright 3-7-23 TD. Receiving: Shelby Hudson 4-26; Hooks 2-30; Brodie Dyer 2-18; Carter King 1-18; O'Banan 1-11 TD; PJ Howe 1-11, Zach Tjelmeland 1-7. KOR: Dyer 1-28. PR: Perry 1-17. Int: Joseph Guzaldo.

Tackling (unasst/asst): Garland Hodges 7-2, Hunter Northrup 4-3, Spencer Dance 1-6, Colby Collins 2-3, Brock Bollinger 2-3, Chance Wylie 2-3, Jakob Joy 2-3, Sergio Sanchez 2-3, Carson Hans 2-1, Hunter Pierpoint 3-0, Wes Dube 1-2, Grey Patterson 1-2, Pierce Walker 2-1, Garrett Betts 2-0, Keith Teague 0-2, Colby White 0-2, Jeremy Hack 0-2, Luke Lawyer 1-0, Cole Scott 0-1, Guzaldo 1-0, Scotty Crosby 1-0, Nathan Erickson 1-0, Dylan Nielsen 1-0.