Tigers over Antlers, worth the wait
Even before the Friday Night Lights could be turned on for the Dripping Springs football Tigers-Kerrville Tivy Antlers game in Kerrville, Mother Nature had other ideas. About an hour before the 7:30 kickoff could be executed, the natural fireworks display of lightning streaks across the skies took precedence on the night. With the lightning rule in effect, it would be after 8:00 before the teams could take the field for pregame drills and the game began around 8:45. The game turned out to be worth the wait as the Tigers held on to take their fourth straight game with the Antlers 14-13.
As is usually the case when teams get their seasons underway, the defenses are ahead of the offenses, just because they can get by with fervor while the offenses have to worry about execution of plays for success. Each team seemed to be feeling their way around in the first half and seldom were able to put anything together. However, in the second half more offensive fireworks were in the forefront.
The first six possessions in the game ended in a punt with inconsistent results. Zach Tjelmeland started the game at QB. He was not able to get the passing game started because of the coverage and harassment he was receiving. This was also affecting the running game because Curtis Cox was the only real threat on the ground and Tivy defense was taking care of that as well.
Preston Alford was inserted into the game as the QB for a series to add another pair of quick feet to the equation. It paid off as he and Cox shared the load as they touched the ball on all twelve plays in the 68 drive. Alford found a small gap off-tackle from the six and barreled his way in for the score. Coleman Chapman tacked on the extra point to make it 7-0. That score held up for the rest of the half.
The Tigers received the second half kickoff, with Alford starting the half. The drive started at the 18. The same strategy worked on this drive with Cox and Alford sharing the carries. At the 48, Alford dropped back to pass and saw a crease up the middle. When he popped the line of scrimmage, there were no defensive backs to be found and 52 yards later it was 14-0.
That seemed easy enough but Kerrville would have their say the rest of the way. After an exchange of punts, Tivy got the ball at their own 28 and waded their way through a penalty laden drive to score from the one to bring the score to 14-7. To start the fourth quarter, Tivy drove for the tying score but stalled at the 20 and settled for a 43FG. 14-10. The next trip down they reached the two. They tried two passes from the two but Tiger defense broke them up and they again settled for a FG, thinking with 5.27 remaining they would get the ball back and their kicker who had a 59 yarder last year could win the game.
The Tiger offense had something to say about that. They started on the 25 and would not give up the ball to preserve the 14-13 victory. Tigers goal of going undefeated still intact.
Another tough opponent in the form of the Hays Rebels (1-0) will present the Tigers with a good challenge in their first home game of the year. Barring inclement weather, the kickoff will occur at 7:30. A loss of a major parking lot due to construction will pose some close in parking problems but shuttle buses will be running all night.
Game stats (DS first): First downs 20-11; Rushing 50-218, 19-36; Passing: 69-145; Passes: 6-11-0, 15-30-0; Punts: 6-28.3, 8-38.8; Penalties: 12-89, 7-65. Fumbles lost: None.
Tiger Stats: Rushing: Alford 23-135, 2TD; Cox 20-105, PJ Howe 1-1; Tjelmeland 6-(-) 3. Passing: Alford 3-5-50; Tjelmeland 3-6-19. Receiving: Shelby Hudson 2-33, Cox 1-22, Carter King 1-10, Alford 1-3, Wyatt Leschber 1-1.
DS tackling (incomp) (Unassist/Asst): Hunter Northrup 3-5, Jakob Joy 3-5, Austin Hulon 3-2, Scotty Crosby 2-1.