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This just was not Dripping Springs' year to face San Antonio Harlan in the area playoffs. First they knocked out the Lady Tigers volleyball team and now it was the Tigers football team. Should have known a 10-1 team would not be a slouch. It is said a good defense will beat a good offense. The Tigers found Harlan had both.
Harlan's defense was extra tough. Their line was aggressive and kept the pressure on all night making it difficult to run or pass with a half dozen sacks. In addition, the secondary stayed in the receivers hip pockets from step one to the finish. The offense loved to keep the ball on the ground with variety. They had some outstanding skill people but the main problem was their versatility among them made it hard to key on any one phase. The Tigers battled well but were overwhelmed and gave up 600 yards of offense in the 55-24 loss.
Harlan took the KO and moved the ball 75 yards in ten plays to take a lead they would never relinquish 7-0. The Tigers made a couple of first downs but sacks forced them to punt. A 42 TD run shortened the 86 drive to 9 plays. 14-0. The Tigers 71 drive was stymied at the 17 and Aidan Burgess toed a 34 FG to make it 14-3 after one. The entire second quarter was a scoreless defensive stalemate with Harlan missing a FG attempt.
The Tigers got the ball first to start the second half. Bad news on the first play. QB Maddox Maher was hurt and did not return. Did not help chances for a comeback. Mateo Perez stepped in and would hit Cooper Reid in the endzone from the 30 to give the team hope at 14-10. Just made the Hawks more determined. Scored on a 27 pass, then a 17 run, intercepted a pass at the 28 and on the first play a 28 pass. Suddenly, 35-10 after three.
Early in the fourth Perez hit Jack Tyndall on a screen pass and he took it to the house from the 45. 17-35. Harlan scored on runs of 20, 65 and 46 to make it 55-17. With just over two minutes left Lawson Attaway scooted 52 yards for the Tigers final score of the year. The Tigers would finish their season at 8-4.
Game stats (DS first): First downs 2127; Rushing 33-168, 47-399; Passing 209201; Passes 14-40-1, 13-19-0; Punts 4-27.3, 2-29; Penalties 6-66, 10-108; Turnovers 1-0.
DS stats: Rushing: J. Tyndall 17-73, Attaway 1-52, Perez 4-24, Jaceton Gotta 3-14, Harrison Rohrer 2-9, Clive Wahl 1-6, Maher 5-(-)20. Passing: Maher 7-19-97, Perez 7-21112-1 2TD; Receiving: Reid 6-100 TD, Merrik Bloomgren 6-59, J. Tyndall 2-50 TD; KOR: Liam Lawson 5-76, Gotta 2-39, Tristan Felder 1-21, N. Tyndall 1-18.
DS tackling (No stats available at presstime.)
