When a team does not get that many touches, they must resolve to do more with them. This was the case in the Tigers 35-6 win over the Wagner Thunderbirds. Wagner lived and died by the run and nursed the play clock to shorten the game. Wagner held a 64-40 advantage in plays and that gap would have been greater had they not committed three turnovers.
The Tigers kicked off and finally stopped Wagner's ground attack. Maddox Maher soon showed he was going to be on as he hit Cooper Reid in full stride resulting in a 67 TD. Aidan Burgess converted the EP. 7-0. No one guessed the Tigers would only touch the ball twice more in the half as Wagner controlled the ball and had a chance to tie the game on the last play when the Tiger D stuffed the runner at the one.
Three turnovers early in the second half by Wagner provided the Tigers with the opportunity to blow the game out of reach. The Tigers had the ball to start the second half and after Jack Tyndall broke for a 35 gain, Maher lofted a 24 pass to Reid. Burgess made it 14-0. The pooch KO was not handled by Wagner and Austin Olivas gobbled it up. J. Tyndall powered it in from the five after Maher got it there on a 23 run. 21-0. Wagner effort flickered with a 4 run. 21-6 after three. In the fourth Maher hit TD passes of 23 to Merrik Bloomgren and 17 to Nick Tyndall for the final score.
The Tiger D only had to deal with a one-dimensional run game and was able to lay back their ears and lower the boom on the runners. Most of the plays were between the tackles and few of the outside options available were even tried to keep the defense honest.
Friday night the Tigers will travel to Harker Heights (Killeen ISD) to garner their second win. Kickoff will be at 7:30pm.
Game stats (DS first): First downs 1211; Rushing 19-153, 54-209; Passing 19416; Passes 10-16, 4-5; Penalties 3-10, 5-15; Turnovers 1-3.
Tiger stats: Rushing: J. Tyndall 11-95 TD; Jaceton Gotta 4-34. Passing: Maher 9-14199 4TD. Receiving: Reid 3-106 TD, N. Tyndall 3-65 TD, Bloomgren 2-30 TD.
Tackling: Clive Wahl 6-8, Chris Gustafson 3-10, Major Bettridge 3-3, Dylan Brasher 2-5, Gavin Badger 3-2, Miles Kennedy 1-8, Cash Brunson 1-5.
