MANY – It never rains in Tiger Stadium – unless it’s the Tiger Stadium that houses the Many Tigers.
Many handled the monsoon conditions all week, and then swamped Class 5A Sam Houston en route to a 38-3 drubbing to open the regular season.
After a parking lot full of tailgating and the pregame fireworks, the Tigers (1-0) jumped out to 14-0 lead in the first quarter.
After halting an impressive Sam Houston (0-1) drive on fourth down to start the game, The Tigers marched 85 yards in 11 plays that included a Jeremiah James 38-yard run.
James capped off the drive with an 11-yard touchdown run. Deacon Lafollette’s extra point made the score 7-0 with 5:11 left in the first quarter.
A Tackett Curtis punt return touchdown was wiped out by a penalty after Sam Houston’s second possession, but the Southern Cal commit got to keep his points on the next return.
Curtis traveled 65 yards on the second return for a score to put Many up 14-0 late in the first quarter.
The Tigers’ defense flexed it muscle all night, overwhelming Sam Houston’s spread offense and forced another three-and-out.
The Tigers embarked on a 10-play, 68-yard touchdown drive that took 4:56 off the clock to go up 21-0. Curtis hit Mason Leach with a 27-yard touchdown pass with 8:05 left in the half.
Sam Houston scored their lone points of the game with a 30-yard field goal set up by a 38-yard pass, cutting Many’s lead to 21-3.
A lengthy Jayvion Smart kickoff return (55 yards) set Many up for more points, but a missed field goal turned the Tigers away.
However Many’s special teams weren’t through as Curtis returned his second punt for a touchdown, sprinting 47 yards as Many snatched a 28-3 lead before halftime.
Curtis finished with 153 yards on three punt returns paired with more than 50 offensive yards.
James found pay dirt for the second time with an 11-yard touchdown run as the Tigers widened the gap to 35-3, and Many coasted in from there. James finished with 172 rushing yards.
Kicker Deacon Lafollette booted a 29-yard field goal for the final score.
Many’s swarming defense held Sam Houston to 103 yards while the Tigers rolled up 322 yards (287 on the ground).
Many forced two turnovers, a Jayvion Smart interception and a JC Hendrickson recovered fumble.
Next week the Tigers (1-0) travel to DeRidder (1-0) to take on the Dragons. The Dragons were 26-12 winners in Week 1 over South Beauregard.
Scoring Summary:
First quarter:
5:11 M – Jeremiah James 11 run, Deacon Lafollette kick 7-0
2:41 M – Tackett Curtis 65 punt return, Lafollette kick 14-0
Second quarter:
8:05 M – Mason Leach 27 catch from Curtis, Lafollette kick 21-0
6:46 SH – 30 yard field goal 21-3
2:08 M – Curtis 47 punt return, Lafollette kick 28-3
Third quarter:
1:01 M – James 11 run, Lafollette kick 35-3
Fourth quarter:
5:55 M – Lafollette 29 yard field goal 38-3
Many Sam Houston
Plays 56 46
Total Yards 322 103
Pass Yards 35 67
Rush Yards 287 36
First Downs 19 7
Turnovers 2 2
Penalty Yards 71 81
Passing: M – Curtis 2-3-35, 1 TD
SH – 4-18-67, 1 Interception
Receiving M – Leach 2-35, 1 TD
Rushing: M – James 21-172, 2 TD’s
Garner 20-79
Curtis 2-23
Maxie 3-17
McLendon 1-1
Booker 2-(-4)
Tackles: M Montgomery 4
Smart 4
Photo Credit: Darrin Dyess
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