Tigers hope to rebound against Sanger after disappointing loss to visiting Buchanan

The 1-2 Tigers faced a powerful Buchanan team (3-0) that has given them problems the last few years. Except for Lemoore’s 2014 11-1 campaign –  when the Tigers beat Buchanan 21-3 – things have not gone well when facing the Bears.

Tigers host Sanger, 7:30 p.m. Friday

A year ago, in Clovis, Lemoore dropped a 56-30 game, and in 2015 the Tigers fell 24-0.

Based on memories, going back some 35 years, it’s difficult to find a similar whitewashing, particularly one that included a running fourth quarter clock with Buchanan leading 49-0. The second half took a little over half an hour to complete, the game ending about 9:40 p.m.

The Tigers simply couldn’t’ get anything going in the first half, watching as Buchanan, led by sophomore running back Kendall Milton, scored six times to take a 42-0 halftime lead. Milton contributed three TDs to the effort, scoring twice in the first quarter and crossing the goal line late in the first half.

Trailing 42-0 early in the second half, the Bears came out strong, taking the opening kickoff 80 yards for the touchdown, their final points of the game.

Lemoore’s best shot at second-half points came during its first possession when quarterback Kristian Gaytan engineered a long drive that placed the Tigers on the Buchanan 24-yard line. But on an ensuing play, Buchanan intercepted a Gaytan pass to end an impressive drive.

Lemoore hopes to rebound this Friday with a home game against Sanger. The Apaches are 3-0 and may have one of their best teams ever, having given up just seven points in their first three games, including a pair of 42-0 shutouts against Fresno and Hanford.

Game time is 7:30 p.m. in Tiger Stadium.