Tigers come up short again; Sanger takes two overtimes to beat Lemoore 40-38

It finally took a pair of overtimes for the Apaches to preserve their pre-season winning streak.

After Sanger scored twice in the fourth quarter, the Apaches led 32-24 with about a minute to go in the game. Lemoore managed a late field goal to cut the margin to eight points. Still under a minute to play, the Tigers recovered an Apache fumble, and from the 25-yard-line scored when Tiger quarterback Kristian Gaytan threw a sideline strike to Jack Foote for the receiver’s third touchdown. A two-point conversion tied the game at 32 to force overtime.

The Tigers Joseph Oldham-Rodriguez tackles Sanger quarterback Blake Wolf in Friday night action in Tiger Stadium.

Bill Burris, Lemooresports.com

Neither team scored in the first overtime, but in the second OT, Sanger scored on a 17-yard pass play and went up by eight points on the two-point conversion.

It was Lemoore’s turn, and the Tigers promptly scored, but failed to convert the two-pointer when Gaytan’s pass deflected off an apache player.

“There was a lot of confusion,” said Tiger Coach Rene Asencio. He called a timeout to ensure his players were ready. “They had us covered. They defended the pass in the end zone.”

The Tigers took a 21-19 lead into the half, thanks to an Amier Hollis short run and a 20-yard halfback pass from Brandon Hargrove to Foote, the first of his three scores.

“We played well against Sanger,” said Asencio. “I’ve always enjoyed their style of play. It was a good game, and both sides gave their all. It was just a fun atmosphere.”

Ascencio said his team has something to prove after last week’s disappointing loss to Buchanan. “Sanger hadn’t given up more than seven points all year,” he said. “They (Tigers) had something to prove.”