Tigers Fall In Regional Contest
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by Dwight Turner The Ardmore Tigers and the East Limestone Indians met last Friday night in a football game with regional playoff implications. Both teams came into the game with only one loss in Class 4A, Region 7 play. Ironically, both the Tigers and the Indians had lost to powerhouse North Jackson. In Friday’s game, the Indians took an early lead but the game remained close until late in the third quarter. Two late East Limestone touchdowns led to a win over Ardmore by a score of 28-6. Three costly turnovers and several untimely penalties spelled disaster for the Tigers. |
Tiger Jake Stagner (88) puts the stop on Indian running back (32) as Tigers from left, Jeffery Boyce (6), Jarrod Mullins (22) and Landon Curtis (44) close in on the action Friday night, October 13. (photo by Bobby Malone) |
Standout tailback Derrick Green had another stellar game, rushing for 154 yards and three touchdowns. Quarterback Elijah Barnes also had a big night, rushing for two touchdowns, passing for a two-point conversion, and hitting on critical pass plays all night.
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East drew first blood when junior quarterback Chad DeWitt scored a touchdown from one yard out. Later in the quarter, DeWitt rambled in from 30 yards out to put the Indians up by a score of 14-0. Ardmore responded in the second quarter with an impressive 80-yard sustained drive, resulting in a touchdown run of eight yards by standout tailback Derrick Green. The point after attempt by Landon Curtis was tipped and the Tigers trailed East 14-6 early in the second quarter. On the Indians’ next possession, Ardmore defensive back Travis Toone picked off a DeWitt pass, giving the Tigers a first down at the East Limestone 45 yard-line. Led by the running of Green and fullback Landon Curtis, Ardmore drove down to the Indian five yard-line, before a motion penalty moved the ball back to the East 11. On the next play, East Limestone’s Legarius Mayberry picked off an Elijah Barnes pass in the end zone, thwarting Ardmore’s scoring attempt. |
Tigers Bubba Lobberecht (21) and Jarrod Mullins (22) knock the ball out of Chad DeWitt’s hands Friday night, October 13. (photo by Bobby Malone) |
East still held a 14-6 lead as both teams retired to the locker room at halftime.
Neither team was able to score for most of the third quarter, with Ardmore ending its first drive of the second half with a punt and the Indians turning the ball over on a fumble on its first possession.
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With 3:27 left in the third quarter, Jonathan Pinque capped off a 44-yard East Limestone drive with a four-yard scoring scamper. The extra point was good and East led 21-6. Ardmore fans came to their feet during the Tigers’ next possession when Green broke several tackles and headed into the open field on a 30 yard run. Tiger fans’ hopes were dashed, however, when an Indian defensive back stripped Green of the ball and East recovered at the Tiger 35. East Limestone added an insurance touchdown when Pinque scored on a five-yard run early in the final period. Pinque, who recently has missed action due to an ankle injury, picked up 77 yards on the night and scored two touchdowns. Green paced the Tiger running attack with 122 yards. The loss drops Ardmore’s overall season mark to 5-2. The Tigers are 3-2 in regional competition and are still in good standing for one of four playoff spots. Ardmore will play host to Priceville Friday night at Cooper Field in the final home game of the season. Kickoff is slated for 7 PM. |
Tiger JJ Jones (50) throws Chad DeWitt back for a loss as Landon Curtis (44) moves in to assist Friday night, October 13. (photo by Bobby Malone) |