First game of the Tiger season ends with a win

Rick Patrick
ECB Publishing, Inc.

For many football teams, it is not uncommon for the first game of the season to be marred with mishaps and penalties. This was certainly the case when the Jefferson Somerset Tigers hosted the Panthers of St. John Paul II Catholic School in the Tigers' season opener at home on Friday, Aug. 23. It was a scoreless defensive struggle through three quarters, but in the end, the Tigers managed to finish the contest with a 20-0 shut-out win over the Panthers.
The game began with the Panthers on offense, but the Panthers' opening drive stalled at the 31-yard line. With good field position, the Tigers were unable to capitalize when they committed a turnover, giving the ball back to the Panthers. The Panthers' drive stalled and the ball went back to the Tigers. The Tigers turned the ball over on downs at the 38-yard line. The Tigers' stingy defensive unit forced another three-and-out. Fortunes for the Tigers seemed to be looking up when speedster Ju'Quan Coasey returned a punt for an apparent touchdown, however a block-in-the-back penalty nullified the scoring run. The quarter ended without a score for either team, but with the Tigers on the move.
In the early moments of the second period, the Tigers had a first-and-goal at the Panthers' nine-yard line. A penalty and a bad snap backed the Tigers up to the 38-yard line. The Tigers managed to make up some ground before turning the ball over on downs at the 10-yard line. The Panthers then made an apparent 90-yard touchdown run, which was called back because of a yellow hankie on the turf. The first half ended with both teams moving the ball, but neither team able to punch the ball over to the promised land.
The third quarter played out in much the same manner as the beginning of the game, with both teams moving the ball, but miscues and penalties keeping each out of the end-zone. The deadlock was broken when the Tigers' Lance Footman scored on a four-yard touchdown run with nine minute remaining in the final quarter. The extra-point failed and the score was 6-0. On the next Panther possession, the Tigers' defense scored on a 35-yard “scoop-six” fumble recovery. The following two-point conversion was successful and the score was now 14-0, in favor of the Tigers. On the next Panther possession, the Tigers' defense remained stingy and the Tigers took over at the Panthers' 34-yard line. The Tigers' drive was capped off by a 10-yard touchdown pass from Jordan Elliot to Detravian Nealy. The two-point conversion failed and the score was 20-0, with two minutes to go in the contest. That is where the score remained until the clock hit 00:00.
Gekobe Smith was named the Offensive Player of the Week for the Tigers. Lance Footman was named the Defensive Player of the Week.
Next on the schedule for the Tigers will be another home game against the Cowboys of Madison County High School. The Cowboys are coming off a 41-0 win over the Raiders of Crescent City High School. The game is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 30 at Tiger Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m.