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Tigers show promise in thrilling 7-6 opening win over Clovis East in new look stadium. Chowchilla next up for LHS
Thanks to a hefty generator, Friday night’s season opener went on as planned. Pacific Gas & Electric is expected to have the lights connected for Friday’s game against Chowchilla. Fans saw a new-look Tiger Stadium, featuring two new bathrooms and concession stands, an expansive entrance, and a new press box.
And the Tigers inaugurated the new setup with a victory.
Senior Brandon Hargrove took up right where he left off last season by racking up impressive yardage, while Lemoore’s new quarterback, junior Justin Holaday, managed to look sharp in his first start, throwing strikes to his receiving corps.
The Tigers scored all the points they needed in the third quarter when senior running back Brandon Hargrove hauled in a 16-yard touchdown pass at the 5:45 mark of the third quarter. The talented two-way player also rushed for 91 yards and caught four passes for 25 yards to lead the Tigers to a season-opening victory.
Holaday was impressive in his first start, completing 20 of 27 passes for 168 yards and the one touchdown.
“He played very well,” said Tiger Head Coach Rene Asencio. “A lot of those passes were short, but they all add up. He has a very nice delivery, and he reads the plays very well.”
The second-year coach also had kudos for his defense, a staunch unit that held the Timberwolves to just six points. “Our defense was really strong. They really move with the ball.”
Their first victory of the year didn’t come easy. Clovis East had its chances to snatch victory from Lemoore, including a second-quarter drive that had the Tigers backed up on their six-yard line. Lemoore persevered thanks to a bad snap that pushed the Timberwolves back to Lemoore’s 24-yard line where Clovis East failed to score.
It was midway through the third that Lemoore finally got things rolling following a Clovis East fumble at the Lemoore 38. A short pass to Amier Hollis for 11 yards and a scrambling Justin Holaday completed a pass to Steven Wilhite to advance the Tigers to the Clovis East 24-yard line. From there Hargrove carried the ball to the 13-yard line.
A holding call pushed the Tigers back to the 22-yard line before Holaday found Hargrove for the only Tiger touchdown of the game.
Ultimately, it was a poor decision by Clovis East that decide the game. After taking over in the fourth, the Timberwolves moved the ball from their 42-yard line to the Tiger five before scoring from five yards out to cut the lead to 7-6.
Unfortunately, the Timberwolves decided to go for the win and failed on the two-point conversion with a little over three minutes left in the game.
The Tigers host Chowchilla this Friday in Tiger Stadium. The Tribe outlasted Fresno High School Friday night 20-18. Game time on Friday is 7:30 p.m.
