Tigers struggle in long fourth quarter, fall out of WYL title chase against Miners

By The Leader Staff
Lemoore's Chris Herrera (34), William Kloster (33) and Jack Foot (9) helped lead a solid defense Friday night against visiting El Diamante.
Lemoore's Chris Herrera (34), William Kloster (33) and Jack Foot (9) helped lead a solid defense Friday night against visiting El Diamante.
Bill Burris, Lemooresports.com

Lemoore’s varsity football team has one more opportunity to redeem itself when it travels to Hanford for a 7 p.m. game against longtime rival Hanford on Friday. The Tigers’ offense found itself struggling in the final minutes of Friday night’s West Yosemite League showdown with El Diamante.

Despite leading 17-13 about halfway through the final quarter, the Tigers offense decomposed, giving up three El Diamante scores in the last minutes to lose 34-17.

The loss dropped the Tigers out of the title race. Going into Friday night’s game, Lemoore put together an impressive 3-1 league record and trailed the league-leading Miners by just one game. As it is, Lemoore is 3-2, tied for third with Redwood High School, two full games behind El Diamante.

Overall the Tigers are 4-5 on the season.

Lemoore hopes to finish in second as it prepares for the Central Section playoffs. To do that the Tigers will have to get past the 1-4 Bullpups.

While the defense held its own Friday night, Lemoore’s offense turned the ball over several times in the final minutes, giving the Miners several openings – which they took to take the lead. At least two Tiger interceptions ended up as El Diamante touchdowns. 

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