Tigers Notch Regional Win Over DAR
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by Dwight Turner Ardmore High School’s Varsity Football Team turned in an impressive performance last Friday night, defeating the visiting DAR Patriots in a key Region 7 match up. The Tigers, riding a stingy defensive effort and an opportunistic offense, took the measure of DAR by a score of 28-7. The win runs the Tigers’ season mark to 7-2 overall, with a regional record of 4-2. Friday night’s win kept Ardmore in a three-way tie for the No. 2 seed in the regional playoffs. Ardmore drew first blood when standout tailback Derrick Green rambled into the end zone from three yards out. Jarrod Mullins booted the extra point to give the Tigers an early 7-0 lead. |
Ardmore senior Tigers Jake Stagner (88), left, and Tavo Sanchez (2), right, run down a Patriot ball carrier during Senior Night action at Cooper Field Friday, October 27. (photo by Bobby Malone) |
On the Tigers’ next possession, quarterback Elijah Barnes scampered 16 yards on the first play from scrimmage, giving Ardmore a first-and-ten at the Patriot 34 yard-line. Two plays later, Barnes hit fullback Landon Curtis with a screen pass. Curtis broke several tackles, gaining 27 yards on the play and setting up the Tigers with a first and goal at the DAR two yard-line. On the next play, Green bulled his way into the end zone for his second touchdown of the quarter. Mullins converted the point-after and the Tigers held a 14-0 lead with 4:07 remaining in the first quarter.
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Early in the second quarter, DAR moved the ball down to the Tiger 22 yard-line. The Patriot threat ended, however, when Duron Robinson picked off a DAR pass in the end zone. Ardmore took possession of the pigskin at the Patriot 20 and staged an impressive 12-play, 80-yard drive for its third touchdown of the game. A key play in the drive came when Head Coach Tracy Malone called for a quick out pass on an obvious punting situation. Barnes hit Drew Cagle with a quick sideline pass and Cagle rambled all the way down to the Patriot twelve yard-line. Two plays later Green scored from a yard out. Mullins’ extra point put Ardmore up 21-0 with 3:50 remaining in the half. Ardmore scored its fourth touchdown midway through the third quarter when senior tailback Tavo Sanchez ran through several tackles on a 10-yard scoring scamper. Again, Mullins drilled the extra-point and the Tigers led 28-0 with 6:26 remaining in the third quarter. |
Tiger defensive back Duron Robinson comes down in the back of the end zone with an interception intended for DAR’s number 33 ending a Patriot scoring threat. (photo by Bobby Malone) |
DAR got on the scoreboard in the fourth quarter when tailback Dusty Baker scored on a 66-yard run. Ardmore’s defense again stiffened and neither team scored before the final gun sounded.
Friday night’s game exemplified how strong the Tigers’ defense has become. Ardmore held the Patriots to just 127-yards of total offense and seven points. The Tigers have given up only 13 points in the last eight quarters.
On the offensive side of the ball, Barnes continues to improve as a quarterback and his on-field savvy increases with each game. Green turned in yet another outstanding performance, racking up three touchdowns and 117 rushing yards. Curtis had three key receptions out of the backfield for 62 yards.
The Tigers travel to county rival Clements for the regular season finale this Friday night. Kickoff is slated for 7 PM.