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When a team gets to the quarterfinal game in the playoffs, it knows the opponent will certainly be an equal.
The Dripping Springs High School game against Steele High School — played in the Alamodome — was all that and more. This brought with it a high possibility of turnovers being the critical difference. Ultimately, this year’s Tiger football team suffered three interceptions that ended up being the final difference. So for the second year in a row, a turnover stymied the Tigers chance to advance.
The Knights had the first possession and were treated to a three and out by the Tiger defense. However, Steele returned the favor. Dripping Springs backed Steele up to the 13 with their punt. No big deal for Steele this time. On the third play the Steele QB found his receiver behind the Tigers and hit him in stride and no Tiger could catch him on his 77 jaunt. It was now 7-0 at the 8.13 mark.
Just like all year, the Tigers responded. It would be a 16 play, 74 drive. They mixed their plays well and the final ten yards was accomplished when Jack Williams hit Maddox Bloomgren on a pass. Landon Requard was true on the kick to tie the game with 2.37 still remaining in the first. Cibolo again went three and out but an interception and return set the Knights up 42 yards away. Big plays put the ball on the one and the first play of the second quarter a QB sneak put Steele back in the lead 14-7.
Later in the quarter a Dripping Springs punt put Steele 54 yards away. Ten plays later Steele powered it in from the three and it was 21-7 with 4.00 remaining. Enough for the Tigers. They were looking at 71 yards. Two big pass plays to Cooper Reid and Kyle Koch put the ball on the four. Jack Tyndall bulled it in from the two and pulled the score back to 21-14 at the half.
After an exchange of punts to start off the second half, Dripping Springs starting from 79 away. They would score on a 22 pass, only to have it brought back on a holding call. Next play a 32 pass to Koch and the game was tied at 21. Cibolo started their winning drive late in the third and worked its way into the fourth. It was a 13 play, 77 drive. It was climaxed by a 3 pass and left the Tigers 9.59 to play with. A second interception gave the Knights another great opportunity but they could convert a 35 field goal.
The Tigers were looking at 80 yards for their chance to win or tie. Big plays worked the ball down to the eleven where a pass to the endzone was pilfered at the one to end any chance of a victory and Steele ran out the clock. The Tigers ended another fine season with an 11-3 record.
Stats were as close as the score. Steele would hold a slim edge in total offense 355-329. The key was in the running game where the Tigers top running back, Jack Tyndall was not getting to play at full power.
Tiger stats: Rushing: Tyndall 19-44TD, Williams 1-5, Jaceton Gotta 6-5. Passing: Williams 20-33-275-3-2TD. Receiving: Koch 6-133TD, Ma. Bloomgren 6-58TD, Reid 2-43, Tyndall 5-35, Max Krippel 1-6. PR: Koch 3-32. KOR: Deacon Ivey 2-33, Krippel 2-21, Tristan Felder.
