Tigers continue losing streak, suffer first league loss in two years to Redwood Rangers

Saturday, September 24, 2016 - 10:49am By Ed Martin, Editor

The Tigers are due for some home cooking. After three straight home games, and five straight losses to open the season, Lemoore’s varsity football team will return to the familiar surroundings of Tiger Stadium hosting Hanford West Friday night at 7:30 p.m.

The Tiger lackluster season and hopes for another West Yosemite League title appear to be shaky at best. The Tigers also hoped to continue a league winning streak that dates back to 2013, the last time Lemoore lost a WYL game, and that was a 19-14 loss to Hanford in the season finale.

West Yosemite League Standings

Lemoore High School Football Schedule

Since that day the Tigers have won 12 straight league games over a two-year stretch, along with a pair of league championships in 2014 and 2015.

Did I forget to mention that the winning streak ended Friday night in Visalia when Lemoore lost to Redwood 31-14.

Hanford West will enter Tiger Stadium 0-1 in the WYL, having dropped a 21-0 contest to cross-town rival Hanford. The Huskies are 3-2 overall and they will face an 0-5 Tiger team.

To be fair the Tigers did put up some pretty good numbers, including those by receiver Jack Foote who managed to haul in 13 Jimmie Jeff passes for 182 yards. Quarterback Jeff was effective as well, completing 19 of 30 for about 260 yards.

Lemoore’s only scores came in the second half when Jeff scored on a short run early in the third and another short burst with less than a minute left in the game.

Lemoore’s defense also limited the Rangers ground game as well. Redwood had its ground troubles, rushing for less than 50 yards on the night.

Redwood appears to be in the running for a league title. The Rangers are 5-0 on the season and now 1-0 in the WYL.

All photos by Bill Burris, Lemooresports.com