Tigers win Homecoming game against Knights

One never knows the reasons and can only speculate but the game between the Dripping Springs Tigers and McCallum Knights did not generate much excitement from the players on the football field. Both sides seemed to plod through the night giving the impression they would just as soon be somewhere else. For the Tigers it could be having a week off, the hoopla of a homecoming game or looking ahead to the game next week with LBJ. Nevertheless, the Tigers were able to get through it all with a win and therein lies the main purpose. It was a night where the defense got in on the offense and the kicking game really made the difference as the Tigers ended up the victor 43-21.

Certainly McCallum came to play defense but the offense shot themselves in the foot at every opportunity. After three plays, the Tigers were minus eight yards and had to punt. The Knight receiver muffed the catch and Grey Patterson was there to jump on the ball at the 33. Going still rough until Preston Alford managed to connect on a couple of passes before taking it in from the three. Coleman Chapman made it 7-0. On their third play, the Knight center put the ball on the ground. Colby Collins alertly picked up the ball and advanced it to the 15. Austin Hulon took it in from there but the EP was not converted. 13-0.

Alford ran and passed the ball from the Tiger 44 to the one where Curtis Cox pounded it in to make it 20-0 after one. It would remain that way to the half. As time was running out McCallum had a long drive and attempted a 39FG that was blocked. Hunter Northrup smartly picked up the returnable ball at the seven and took it to the Knight 38. The Tigers got to attempt a 42FG but it was wide right as the half ended.

A Desi de la Cruz deep kickoff and good coverage put the Knights 90 yards away. A second down pass was snared by Hulon and returned 15 for a quick TD. After an exchange of punts, Cameron O'Banan's 47 pinned the Knights down at the one. On the second play the QB was made to cough up the ball that squirted into the hands of Scotty Crosby and he trotted in from the seven. 33-0. Next possession Cox would be provided a giant hole that he gladly cruised through for his 15 TD.

The rest of the game was turned over to the reserves and it was there that McCallum was able to do most of their damage. A TD pass on a well defensed play put their first points on the board. An identical play netted another midway of the fourth and on the next series for the Tigers a sack fumble provided a big Knight lineman a thrill of a lifetime by scooping up the ball and motoring the 28 yards for their final TD. With 43 seconds remaining, de la Cruz was afforded the opportunity to drill a 37FG for the final points of the long night.

Tomorrow night, the long awaited matchup with district favorite LBJ will occur. Both teams are undefeated in district play. Kickoff will be at 7:30 at Nelson Field in Austin.

Team stats (DS first): First downs: 10-15; Rushing: 29-70, 38-71; Passing: 111-154; Passes: 9-11-0, 12-25-1; Punts: 5-42.8, 4-27.9; Penalties: 3-35, 1-10; Fumbles lost: 1-1, 3-3.

DS stats: Rushing: Alford 11-32 1TD; Cox 4-16 2TD; Hulon 1-15 1TD; O'Banan 6-14; Hunter Miller 2-3; Ty Herron 2-(-) 1; Ethan Hooks 1-(-) 3; Julian Wright 2-(-) 6. Passing: Alford 9-9-111; O'Banan 0-2-0. Receiving: O'Banan 5-80; PJ Howe 2-9; Wyatt Leschber 1-13; Brodie Dyer 1-9. KOR: Jakob Joy 1-8; Carter King 1-2. Int: Hulon 1-18 TD. FR: Collins; Sergio Sanchez; Crosby TD.

DS tackling (unassist/assist): Joy 4-5, Northrup 6-2, Brock Bollinger 3-3, Luke Lawyer 4-2, Nic Austin 3-1, Collins 2-2, Liam Dahl 2-2, Garland Hodges 2-2, Sanchez 1-3, Carson Hans 3-0, Hunter Pierpoint 1-2, Keith Teague 2-1, Hulon 2-1, Spence Dance 1-1, Wes Dube 1-1, Patterson 1-1, Crosby 1-1, Chance Wylie 1-0, Andres Flores-Perry 1-0, Garrett Betts 1-0, Pierce Walker 1-0, Landon Garrett 1-0, Nathan Erickson 0-1, Colby White 0-1.