Tigers fall to Cowboys

Rick Patrick
ECB Publishing, Inc.

Expectations were high when the Jefferson Somerset High School Tigers met a long time rival, the Madison County High School Cowboys, on Friday, Aug. 30 at Tiger Stadium. It was Senior Night at Tiger Stadium and the Tigers were looking to prove that this Tiger team would not be the "push over" that Tiger teams of the past had been. The Cowboys had a different plan. In the end, the relentless rushing attack of the Cowboys proved to be too much for the Tigers to handle and the Cowboys finished the hot, muggy evening with a 55-0 shut out of the home team.
After winning the opening coin toss, the Cowboys chose to begin the contest on offense. Starting their opening drive at the 30-yard line, they proceeded to march down the field until quarterback Vinsonta Allen ran five yards into the end-zone on a fourth-and-goal play. Thomas Allen's point-after-touchdown (PAT) was good and the score was 7-0 in favor of the Cowboys with 7:50 remaining in the opening quarter. The Tigers took the following kickoff to the 38-yard line, but their driver stalled at mid-field. The Cowboys took over on their own 20-yard line and again, moved down the field with great efficiency. Robert Hiers punched the ball over the goal line from one yard out and after another successful PAT, the score was 14-0 with 3:57 still to go in the first quarter. The Tigers began their next drive in good field position at the 41-yard line, but the drive was cut short by a fumble that was covered by the Cowboys at the Tigers' 45-yard line. The Tigers returned the favor when they caused a fumble at their own 31-yard line. The Tigers were unable to capitalize as the slew of turnovers continued when a Cowboys defender picked off a pass and the Cowboys had the ball again at the Tigers' 35-yard line. The Cowboys immediately took advantage with a 35-yard touchdown pass. The PAT was good and the score was now 21-0 with 1:32 still in the first quarter. The quarter ended with the Tigers on their best drive of the evening.
In the early moments of the second quarter, the Tigers moved deep into the Cowboys end of the field. The drive ended with a turn-over on downs at the Cowboys' 10-yard line. The Cowboys drove down the field, but the drive was cut short when the Tigers' Ju'Quan Coasey intercepted a pass and the Tigers' offense was in place at the 20-yard line. The drive stalled and the Tigers were forced to punt. Then Allen, the Cowboys dangerous return man ran the kick 90 yards to the Tigers' end-zone. Another good PAT put the score at 28-0 with just 58 seconds before intermission. On their next drive, the Tigers committed another costly turn-over when they fumbled the ball at their own 20-yard line. The Cowboys quickly took advantage with a touchdown pass and the score was 35-0 in the final seconds of the second quarter. During the halftime ceremonies, the Tigers paid tribute to the senior members of the football team, cheerleaders and ROTC group.
The second half began in much the same manner for the Tigers as the first half had ended. The Tigers had begun their drive at the 35-yard line, but the drive ended with a Cowboy interception at the 22-yard line. The Cowboys struck quickly with a touchdown pass. The PAT went through the uprights and the score was The remainder of the game moved quickly with a continuously running game clock. The Tigers took the ball at their own 20-yard line. That drive stalled and the Tigers were again put into a punting situation. Another big punt return put the Cowboy offense in business at the Tigers' 28-yard line. By this time, the Cowboys' were playing primarily back-up players. The Tigers had been worn down by the big, relentless Cowboy offensive line and the Cowboys had little trouble moving the ball the short distance to the Tigers' end-zone. The drive was capped off with a one-yard touchdown run. The score was 49-0 with 11:04 remaining in the final period. The Tigers went three-and-out on their next drive and again punted to the Cowboys. The Cowboys seemed to drive down the field on their next drive at will and the drive was capped off by an eight-yard touchdown run. After a Cowboy penalty moved the ball back five yards on the PAT, the Tigers' special teams unit broke through the Cowboys line and blocked the PAT. The score was 55-0, with 2:34 remaining in the contest. The Tigers took over at the 21 yard line as the final seconds ticked away, with the visiting Cowboys ahead 55-0.
The Tigers, now with a 1-1 record will face the North Florida Christian Eagles on Friday, Sept. 6, at Tiger Stadium. The Eagles have an 0-1 record, with a 21-20 loss coming at the hands of First Baptist School, from Charleston S.C.
Kickoff is set to take place at 7 p.m at Tiger Stadium.