Harlandale falls to the Tigers

The Dripping Springs Tigers did their part to set up the major battle with Hays Johnson Friday night as they controlled the competitive Harlandale Indians to win 52-14. This matchup will have two undefeated teams going at it for the inside track to the title. Both teams are 8-0 on the season and should test the capacity of Tiger Stadium for the 7:30 pm kickoff.

Once again the Tigers were playing an opponent for the first time and like most other foes Harlandale had some quality performers but could not match up with the depth of talent the Tigers have. The majority of the results for the Tigers was from their potent passing attack. Harlandale was set to stop the running attack but could not master the passing combinations.

It was three and out for Harlandale to start the game. An Indian punt put the Tigers facing 94 yards to paydirt. It only took five passing plays to top receivers Garon Duncan and Kyle Koch to cover the distance. The final nine to Koch. Walker Wright continued his perfect streak of extra points. The next drive stalled and Wright split the uprights for a 38 yard field goal. 10-0. 3:58 remaining.

A backward lateral turned the ball over to the Indians ten yards from the goal. A penalty put it on the two and they made the touchdown but missed the extra point. Tigers led 10-6 after one. A seven-play, 68 yard drive climaxed by Preston Alford's five-yard jaunt made it 17-6. 7:11. A quick three and out put the Tigers back in business 63 yards away. On the sixth play Austin Novosad hit Wright from 29 to up the ante to 24-6 with 4:12 left. Harlandale had a string of success and the QB finished off the 70 yard drive with a 13 yard run and added two-point pass. It was 24-14 but they left the Tigers a little too much time. They covered 62 drive in two plays with the final seven going to Wright. 31-14 at the half.

That would be all of Harlandale's scores but the Tigers would not be through with three more. The first covered 63 with Alford taking it in from the six. Next drive was 49 yards away following a punt. A pass to Noah Lawyer put it on the two and Skylar Capone-Ford caught the touchdown pass. The reserves were just as eager to show they could finish off a drive and Kade Curry showed his mettle with a 20 yard burst for the final score. Javier Ortega would add the extra point.

District standings: DS 5-0, Hays Johnson 5-0, Seguin 4-1, Veterans Memorial 2-3, NB Canyon 2-3, McCollum 1-4, Harlandale 1-4, Lehman 0-5.

Last week's scores: Johnson 14 Seguin 0; Memorial 62 Canyon 46; McCollum 43 Lehman 13.

Game stats (DS first): First downs 26-12; Rushing 28-109, 23-122; Passing 489-102; Passes 25-232-0, 12-30-1; Punts 2-47.0, 7-33.6; Penalties 10-83, 7-75; Fumbles lost 1-2, 0-1.

DS stats: Rushing: Alford 10-50 2TD; Kade Curry 5-44 TD; Jack Williams 4-17; Luke Hudson 5-14; Jacob Mann 1-1; Novosad 3-(-) 17. Passing: Novosad 20-24-420 4TD; Williams 5-8-69; Receiving: Koch 5-136 2TD; Duncan 7-128 TD; Wright 3-88 TD; Lawyer 3-87; Jaylon Sams 2-17; Boston Papp 1-14; Riley Maher 1-7; Brandon Cave 1-6; Kellen Vickery 1-5; L. Hudson 1-2. Int: Greyson Jones. KOR: L. Hudson 2-32, Sams 1-23.

Tackling (Unasst/Assist): Bryson Amrine 5-5, Luka Picucci 3-3, Gunnar Betts 6-0, Elijah Gonzales 4-1, Brandon Peters 2-3, Nathan Prehar 2-1, Blake DeSilva 2-0, Shel Hudson 3-1, Gabrielle Quintana 2-1, Wyatt Leschber 0-4, Conor Kelly 1-1, Raphael Siewen 0-1, Brandon Laws 0-1, Chase Whisenant 0-1.