Tigers Improve to 2-0 on Season
The Macon County High School Tigers got a big rivalry win over the Westmoreland Eagles last Friday night.
Macon led the whole way and came away with a 35-0 shutout.
Following an exchange of possessions, Tanner Cleary intercepted Eagle quarterback Blake Carter for a 40 yard pick six. Joey Medrano added the extra point and Macon led 7-0. On the next Tiger possession Tyler Carlisle had a 57 yard score. Medrano added the PAT and Macon led 14-0 with 4:08 left in the 1st quarter. Tiger Michael Tirjan broke a 71 yard run with 9:39 left in the half and Medrano converted for a Macon 21-0 lead. On the next possession Tirjan broke a 45 yard run and Medrano made PAT to increase lead to 28-0. Then with 4:24 left in the half Macon scored on a Seth Carlisle pass to Eric Kuster for 18 yards. Medrano converted and the Tigers led 35-0 at halftime.
In Tennessee high school football there is a mercy rule which states that when a team is behind by 35 points the clock will run continually. Macon’s first teams played only one series and lots of back-ups played in the second half and with the running clock no points were scored in the second half. Final score was Macon County 35 Westmoreland 0.
Tirjan had the big game this week rushing for 121 yards on 4 carries and 2 TDs despite not playing in the second half. Carlisle was 7 of 15 passing with 83 yards and 1 TD and rushed 3 times for 66 yards and 1 TD. Ryan Carver rushed 5 times for 14, Isaac Belton carried 4 times for 12 yards, Braxton Crawford ran 2 times for 17 yards. Branson Henry was 1 of 1 passing for 12 yards and rushed 2 times for 1 yard. Chris Oliver had 3 catches for 25 yards, Eric Kuster had 2 catches for 21 yards and a TD, Crawford had 1 catch for 28 yards, Adrian Alcorta had 1 catch for 12 yards, and Taylor McQuery had 1 catch for 9 yards. Tyler Swindle led all tacklers with 11 stops followed by Dylan Butler with 8 stops and McQuery with 6. The Tiger defense had an outstanding performance giving up only 108 yards rushing and 3 yards passing in the game while scoring one TD on 1 turnover created.
This week begins region 4-4A play and the Pearl Cohn Firebirds come to town. They went all the way to the Class 4A championship game last season and return a lot of players. The game will kick-off at Pat Parker Memorial Field at 7 pm on Friday night.
Pictures by Julie Collins
