Tiger football in the mix for the title

With the way the Tigers have performed over the first half of their season, there should be little doubt they are primed to contend for a title run in District 26-6A.

The 35-0 blowout of the Johnson High School Jaguars last Friday night and the previous victory over Bowie High School disposed of the two closest opponents for playoff berths. Just ahead is a weak team (Akins High School), giving the Tigers little opposition leading into their games with the two favorites of the league — Westlake and Lake Travis — the following weeks. Before the season started, many were expecting blowouts against them, but with the quality the Tigers have shown, those two teams had better not take the game lightly.

The way the playoffs work in 6A, the determination of divisions I and II takes place after the four teams have qualified and has nothing to do with place. The top two enrollment schools are assigned to I and the other two to II. No matter what place the Tigers earn, they will be in II. There is a good chance the Tigers bi-district opponent will be either Vandegrift or Manor.

Johnson still has not been the rival most expected — although they are only three years old. They have encountered some key injuries, and that is when depth takes over. Even though the Tigers looked to have dominated, the game could have been closer. Some questionable decisions to go for it instead of punting gave the Tigers a short field, and they would make the most of it. That said, the Jaguars did make the Tigers become a one-dimensional offense when they shut down the rushing attack. But Johnson could not solve the magnificent quality of the Tiger defense.

The Tigers kicked off and forced a three and out to put the ball 82 yards away. On the fourth play, quarterback Austin Novosad (#16) tossed a pass to running back Jack Tyndall (#18) who went 55 yards for an apparent score. A penalty brought it back, and later, Novosad hit wide receiver Garon Duncan (#8) in the endzone with a 7-yard toss. Kicker Walker Wright made it 7-0. A penalty gave Johnson new life on a punting situation, but the next time it came up, they chose to challenge the Tiger defense at the 30. They were stuffed, and on the first play, Novosad hit wide receiver Kyle Koch (#6) for the entire 30 yards. 14-0.

The Jaguars put together a decent drive that took them into the second quarter. Linebacker Luca Picucci (#24) played a pass perfectly and became the receiver at the 10-yard line and returned it to the 17. DSHS could not convert, but later, Novosad would find Koch again — this time from the 31-yard line. 21-0. Near the end of the half, Johnson went for it and was stuffed again at their 31-yard line. Novosad found Duncan for a 10-yard pass with .15 seconds left in the half. 28-0.

There was not much offense in the second half. The only score came late in the third quarter as Novosad threw his fifth touchdown pass of the night when he hit Koch, who took it to the house for a 54-yard score. 350. Later, Wright would attempt a 41-yard field goal, only to have it hit way up on the upright and bounce away. The Tigers were able to have their starters go three quarters and then turn it over to the reserves in the fourth.

Team stats (DSHS first): First downs 20-8; Rushing 19-42, 34-77; Passing 345-60; Passes 24-39-0, 7-16-1; Punts 4-37.5, 4-38.0; Penalties 9-85, 5-35; Fumbles lost 0-0, 0-2.

Tiger stats: Rushing: Tyndall 9-40, Joseph Holmes 2-10, Kade Curry 3-7, Jack Williams 5-() 15. Passing: Novosad 19-32-290 5TD; Williams 5-7-55. Receiving: Koch 5-138 3TD, Duncan 7-62 2TD, Wright 4-54, Tyndall 3-36, Joseph Moreland 3-30, Maddox Bloomgren 2-25. Int. Picucci 1-7.

DSHS tackles (Unasst/ Asst): Derek Edgar 135, Picucci 11-5, Tomsen Vickery 5-3, Nathan Prehar 2-6, Bryson Amrine 4-1, Keller Stafford 4-0, Gunnar Betts 3-1, Reed Mohon 3-1, Rio Hay 2-2, JD Casteen 1-1, Elijah Gonzales 2-1, Daniel Sedillo 2-1, Johnny Martinez 1-1, Greyson Jones 1-1, Landon Requard 2-1, Gabriel Quintana 0-2, Owen Rhodes 0-2, Jackson Mills 1-0, Noah Chomout 1-0.