Tigers maul Vikings for homecoming

Sports Varsity Tiger Football 20181025

Tigers maul Vikings for homecoming

By Carl Waits

It was the homecoming game for the 2018 Tigers. Even though the inclement weather all week had cancelled the parade and pep rally, plus the threat of rain for the game, nothing would have changed the outcome of the game as the Tigers mauled the Lanier Vikings 70-0. This despite the starters barely getting to play in the game and a running clock for the second half. There just was not any Hagar the Horrible on the Vikings side.

This was the second district game where a mercy running clock for the second half was used and there will probably be two more occasions in district play. This is a sadly unfortunate situation that could have been remedied. The onus is completely on Austin ISD. It was entirely on them that they threw the smaller schools in the district under the bus by making them play in the large school division and have to endure beatings like this. It is not fair to either team in this contest. In some situations, inequities have to take place but not in this case. The five schools other than LBJ were supposed to play in the smaller division. I understand the scheduling dilemma, but a good scheduler could overcome that problem. You just cannot treat the young people that way. It is no wonder that those schools have little desire to come out and compete. You have to feel for the athletes and their coaches.

It was obvious from the get-go this game would be one-sided. DS kicked off to Lanier and they started off at the 21. No gain, 7 gain, fumble for 3 loss and then a snap over the punters head and tackled at the 10. It did not get any better from there. Tanner Prewit took the snap and practically walked through the defense to score. After Coleman Chapman's EP it was 7-0 and the Tiger offense would not re-enter the game until it was 28-0.

Lane Dominey would snag an overthrown pass and trot to the goal line from 40 yards out. 14-0. Next, a Tiger would relieve a Viking receiver of the ball and Nico Ramirez scooped up the elusive ball and easily returned it 46 yards for another score with only a Tiger convoy in the area. 21-0. Nico was not through. On the next series he stepped in front of another pass and returned it 18 for his second TD. 28-0. Still 6.10 left in the first quarter.

Lanier finally got a punt off and the Tiger starters came back on the field. On the second play, Prewit hit Enzo Arnold behind the line of scrimmage and again he did not have much opposition as he took the ball down the sideline for the 55 score. 35-0. End of night for the starters after three plays.

Zack Tjelmeland got his opportunity to lead the team. He moved the team steadily down the 53 yards. On the ninth play he would hit Gage Duncan with a 10 pass for the score early in the second quarter. 42-0. The next drive would cover 46 yards in six plays. PJ Howe would take it in from the 22 with just 31 seconds remaining in the half. Justin Schneider would tack on his second EP of the quarter. 49-0.

The decision was easily made to just have a running clock for the entire second half. Scoring did not stop. They took the second half KO and moved the ball 75 yards to score. Scotty Crosby had a pair of nice runs as did Jake Gomez. Ryan Davenport took in from the ten on the sixth play. It was Desi De la Cruz's turn to kick the EP. 56-0. The Tiger D held on a fourth and one at the 34. It would only take three plays this time. Brock Bolinger for 11, Crosby for 21 and Gomez the final 2. De la Cruz made it 63-0. Carter King made a hit that jarred the ball loose from the runner and then out-wrestled him for the ball at the 21. Tjelmeland ran it for 14 and Howe for the final seven. Jake Schneider made the EP. Final 70-0.

The Tiger starters will be well rested as they travel to Seguin tomorrow night to take on the Matadors there. It will be for the outright lead in district as both are undefeated. Kickoff 7:30.

Game stats (Tigers first): First downs 19-3; Rushing 27-239, 26-19; Passing 86-4; Passes 5-5-0, 1-5-2; Punts 0-0, 4-30.5; Penalties 2-20, 2-10; Fumbles lost 0-1, 2-4.

Tiger stats: Rushing: Crosby 6-78; Howe 4-38 2TD; Gomez 3-37 TD; Lucas Weeden 2-22; Tjelmeland 5-17; Curtis Cox 4-16; Bolinger 1-11 TD; Prewit 1-10 TD, Davenport 1-10 TD. Passing: Tjelmeland 3-3-18 TD; Prewit 2-2-68 TD; Receiving: Gage Duncan 3-18 TD; Arnold 1-55 TD; Cameron O'Banan 1-13.