Tigers bitten by Tiger Sharks

Rick Patrick
ECB Publishing, Inc.

The Jefferson County High School Tigers opened their 2022 varsity football season with a 41-8 loss to a tough Tiger Shark team from Port St. Joe, on Friday Aug. 26, at Tiger Stadium.
The Tiger Sharks went up early, scoring a touchdown on their first possession of the contest. The score was 6-0 in the early moments of the first period. The Tiger Sharks managed to score once more in the opening period, despite some tough defensive play from the Tigers. The score was 12-0 at the end of the first quarter.
Turnovers hit both teams during the second period, but it was the Tiger Sharks who were able to capitalize, turning a fumble into a scoop-6 touchdown. The Tigers threatened with a first and goal inside the Tiger Sharks' five yard line late in the second quarter, but the Tiger Sharks put together a goal-line stand to keep the Tigers out of the endzone. The half ended with the Tiger Sharks ahead, 25-0.
During the third period, the Tiger Sharks added another touchdown to the scoreboard. The period ended with the Tigers on the move and threatening, inside the Tiger Sharks' 20-yard line.
The Tigers were able to get into the endzone when Travis Leaton found pay-dirt on a four-yard touchdown run. This was followed by a successful two-point conversion and the score was 35-8, early in the fourth quarter. The Tiger Sharks added one more touchdown at the half-way mark of the final quarter. The Tigers had one more scoring opportunity late in the game when they had the ball inside the Tiger Sharks' 10-yard line. However, the Tiger Sharks' defense stiffened and the game ended with the 39-8 score.
Keaton was named the Offensive Player of the Week for the Tigers. Juvon Pettway was the Defensive Player of the Week, with his eight tackles and one interception.
The Tigers (0-1) will now travel to Tallahassee to face the Panthers (1-0) of St. John Paul II Catholic School. The Panthers are coming off a close 35-33 victory over the Raiders of Rickards High School. The game is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 2, at 7 p.m.