It was homecoming for Dripping Springs High School this past weekend, and its Tiger football team faced an opponent made for the very purpose of a homecoming game.
Due to the hoopla usually reserved for homecoming activities, coaches generally want to be playing a game that is expected to be a win. Austin’s Akins High School provided all of the above for a good home crowd. It was an easy 48-0 victory.
When one plays an opponent like Akins, the main worry is not to get any of your players hurt for the important, competitive games ahead. As expected, scores came easily, and the starters retired for the night after one possession into the second quarter with a score of 35-0. At that time, Akins was stymied to the tune of only four yards rushing and none passing.
On the second play of the Tigers’ first possession, Maddox Maher tossed a shuttle pass to Maddox Bloomgren, who weaved his way the necessary 10 yards to score. Landon Requard was true on the extra point — the first of six that night. An interception by Gabriel Quintana on the 50-yard line set up a 12-yard touchdown run by Jack Tyndall, the first of three.
Kyle Koch showed off his immense receiving skills when he snagged a one-handed, nine-yard pass while he was offbalance and in the air. 21-0. J. Tyndall scored on another 12yard run to make it 28-0 after one quarter and bumped it up another seven on a 39-yard run in his final act of the night.
This was when the reserves took over, and the game was a more even match the rest of the way. Scoring did not stop. Logan Keim stepped in at quarterback and threw a nice 10-yard pass in the endzone to Cooper Reid. Ian French had a field goal (26, 33) in each of the final two quarters to finish off all scoring.
On Friday, Oct. 13, the Tigers will travel to Westlake for the first of two very important district matches. Kickoff is 7 p.m. The following week, the Tigers will host Lake Travis High School. At the same time, the 1973 Dripping Springs district champs will be recognized in pre-game ceremonies.
Game stats (DSHS first): First downs 18-3; Rushing 30252, 32-76; Passing 148-29; Passes 13-19-1, 1-9-1; Punts 1-45, 6-32; Penalties 6-60, 8-65.
Tiger stats: Rushing: Tyndall 8-134 3TD; Jaceton Gotta 1171; Maher 2-17; Keim 3-16; Ryder Frost 5-16. Passing: Maher 6-10-74 2TD; Keim 7-974-1 TD. Receiving: Max Krippel 2-32; Tristan Felder 1-28, Merrit Bloomgren 2-20; Reid 2-22 TD; Koch 2-13 TD; Jakob Rivas 1-15; Ma. Bloomgren 1-10 TD; Frost 1-4; Kannon Funderburgh 1-4.PR: Gotta 25; Kock 1-17. Int: Quintana.
DSHS tackling (unasst/asst): Theo Howard 3-4, Colton Hanson 8-1, Tomsen Vickery 3-3, Luca Picucci 3-1, Chris Gusfafson 1-4, Cash Brunson 1-2, Dominick Prehar 1-1, Gage De los Santos 1-1, Elijah Gonzales 3-0, John Lamoglia 0-2, Pierce Haynes 0-2.