The Tigers just couldn’t overcome Tulare’s second-half surge and fell 27-14 to the visiting Tribe for their third loss in a row as they prepare for incoming Redwood High School in two weeks (Oct. 4).
The Rangers’ visit to Lemoore High School will begin what promises to be a tough West Yosemite League campaign for Lemoore.
The Tigers fell to 1-4 on the season, their only victory, a 26-16 win over Chowchilla in week two.
Lemoore will be facing a powerful Rangers team coached by Kevin Scharton. Redwood is 4-0 on the year coming off Friday night’s 51-6 win over Atascadero High School on the Greyhounds home field.
The Rangers and Tigers have had several common opponents. Redwood has defeated Tulare Union (28-8) and Tulare Western (27-22), teams that have faced off against the Tigers in recent weeks, including Friday night.
The two teams on Friday night traded touchdowns in the first quarter including a Chris Taylor reception in the first quarter to tie the game at 7-7 with about a minute left in the opening stanza.
With about eight minutes left in the half, quarterback Justin Holaday found Taylor open on a pass play for a touchdown to give the Tigers a 14-7 lead.
Lemoore’s Koy Davis intercepted a Tulare pass to end another Tribe drive with about a minute to go in the first half. It was his second interception in the first half. Earlier he intercepted a Tulare pass in the Tigers end zone, grabbing the ball from Tulare’s Pedro Hernandez, preventing a Tribe touchdown.
Unfortunately, the Tigers offense slowed down in the second half.
The Rangers held the Tigers scoreless in the third and fourth quarters while scoring on a short run with about five minutes left in the third to tie the game at 14-14.
The game remained tied until scoring on a two-yard run with about seven minutes left in the game.
Ahead 21-14 in the final period, Tulare’s Bear Nunley blocked a Tiger punt, giving his team a first down on the Lemoore 8-yard line. Moments later the Tribe scored on a 6-yard run to up the margin to 27-14 with five minutes left in the game.
10/4 Redwood at Lemoore 7:30 p.m.
10/11 at El Diamante 7:30 p.m.
10/18 at Golden West 7:30 p.m.
10/25 Mt. Whitney at Lemoore 7:30 p.m.
11/1 at Hanford 7:30 p.m.