Tigers' football season comes to an end as Dinuba holds on for 35-27 playoff win

By The Leader Staff
It took four Dinuba Emperors to bring down Lemoore's Brandon Hargrove in Thursday's Central Section, Division II playoff match. The Tigers lost 35-27 to end their season.
It took four Dinuba Emperors to bring down Lemoore's Brandon Hargrove in Thursday's Central Section, Division II playoff match. The Tigers lost 35-27 to end their season.
Bill Burris, Lemooresports.com

Lemoore’s varsity football team’s up-and-down season came to an end Thursday night in Dinuba as the Emperors outlasted the Tigers 35-27 in the Central Section Division II playoff opener for both sides.

Lemoore’s season, which showed promise in the early stages of the West Yosemite League race, finished with a 4-7 overall record and a 3-3 mark in league play.

Dinuba came into Thursday’s game with an impressive 9-1 overall record and 5-0 mark in league play.

Dinuba will host El Diamante in a Nov. 17 semi-final game. One of those teams will face the winner of the Tulare Union and Garces Memorial semi-final on Nov. 24.

The game remained relatively close, but Dinuba opened it up a little with about four minutes in the final quarter with a two-yard rushing touchdown for a 35-20 lead.

A Tiger touchdown pass closed the gap with about a minute left in the contest, but the Emperors recovered the on-side kick at their 49-yard-line to win.

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