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Tigers' superb season ends on a sad note as 13-0 Ridgeview earns Division title
As it is, Lemoore, sans head coach Shannon Pulliam, just didn’t have the defensive might it’s displayed all season and fell to Bakersfield’s Ridgeview High School 45-19. The loss ended, for the second straight year, Lemoore’s hopes for a Division II Central Section championship. Lemoore finished the season at 10-3.
A year ago an unbeaten Lemoore team lost to Dinuba in the Division II playoffs.
The Tigers’ vaunted defense, which during the West Yosemite League was downright stingy to opposition offenses, allowing just 4.3 points per game while averaging 43, just couldn’t stop the Wolf Pack, including running back Jamar Moya, who scored three times, collecting 63 yards on 16 carries and catching three passes for 85 yards.
It also didn’t help that Ridgeview forced at least four Tiger turnovers that led to scores, including recovering a Tiger fumble on kickoff that led to an 18-yard touchdown run. The Wolf Pack scored its final touchdown on a 99-yard interception in the fourth quarter.
The Tigers allowed more first half points (24) that they allowed in a total of six full WYL contests.
Allen Perryman scored all three of Lemoore’s touchdowns on passes, two of them from Tiger quarterback Logan Ahlin, and finished with three catches for 114 yards. His first came toward the end of the first quarter when the Tigers closed the gap to 10-7. He scored again in the third quarter on a 23-yard pass from Trey Perryman, but the 2-point conversion failed and Lemoore trailed 31-13.
With just three minutes left in the final period, Perryman scored on a 33-yard pass from Ahlin.
It’s unclear what the absence of Pulliam meant to Lemoore’s team. Lemoore High Athletic Director Brady Holaday called the sideline shots Friday night while Pulliam apparently watched from the stands.
The Leader attempted to contact the school’s administration and Pulliam but did not receive a response. According to the Fresno Bee, Pulliam said that he had been placed on administrative leave by LHS Principal Rodney Brumit for allegedly promoting a hazing incident on Monday that resulted in a player breaking his foot and another being punched in the jaw.
Pulliam denied the allegations and told The Bee he’s never engaged in any hazing activities in his 25 years as coach. Two players who were involved in the fight were also suspended for Friday’s game, said Pulliam.
