MCHS drops Region opener to Goodpasture
By Tim Case
On Friday September
2nd , the MCHS Tigers faced its first district opponent of the
season as they played the defending state runner-up Goodpasture Cougars. Both team’s offenses were unstoppable.
The Tigers scored on its opening drive with a TD pass from
Grace to Manning, Cook adds the PAT. The
Cougars answer back with a 72 yd TD pass, PAT good. A QB sneak by Grace caps off a 68 yard 16
play drive, PAT good by Cook. The Tigers led 14-7. On the Cougars next offensive play, Keenan
Reynolds runs 74 yards for the TD, PAT good. Tie game 14-14. Tigers take the
lead again on 25 yard field goal by Cook, 17-14. Two plays later Reynolds gives the Cougars
their first lead of the night on a 43 yard TD run, PAT good , 21-17. MC gets the lead back just before the half as
Jessie Newberry runs off right tackle for a four yard TD run ending a 6 play 73 yard drive. PAT
good by Cook. Tigers led at the half 24-21.
On the first play of
the 3rd quarter the Cougars get the lead back as Reynolds runs 80 yards untouched to the endzone, PAT good, 28-24. The Tigers fail to convert on a fake punt and
give the ball back to the Cougars. Reynolds scored two plays later and extended
the lead to 35-24. Late in the 3rd
quarter Newberry scores on a TD run from eight yards out, two point conversion
failed, Tigers trailed 35-30. The Tiger defense
forced a fumble, which Tyler Manning recovers,
on their own one yard line to keep the Cougars from scoring. Grace scored 99 yards and 12
plays later on a three yard TD run.
Grace connected with Newberry on a pass play for the two point
conversion. The Tigers led once again
38-35. Cougars answer back on a 63 yard four
play drive to take the lead, 42-38.
Dalton Driver is stripped of the ball on the ensuing kick-off and
Goodpasture recovered. The Tigers
defense make a final goal-line stand after the Cougars had it 1st
and goal at the eight to force a Nic Adamopolous 25 yard field goal. With 2:05 remaining and no time outs the
Tigers trailed 45-38. The Tigers drove
73 yards in 12 plays and on a 4th down play with time expiring,
Grace hits Manning on an 18 yard TD pass in the back corner of the endzone to
make the score 45-44. Going for the win
after time had expired, Grace rolls to his right and with all receivers covered
tucked the ball and ran for it. Four
Cougar Players met Grace at the goal-line and stopped the Tigers just inches
short.
The Tigers will take on the Sycamore War Eagles at home on
September 16 for another district
game. The Tigers are 1-2 overall and 0-1
in the district. Come out Friday night
and cheer the Tigers on to victory and “I’ll see you at the game.”
