A young but aggressive Tiger football team will take the field Friday night in Tiger Stadium looking for wins
So far, Lemoore hasn’t placed restrictions on fan attendance, and the players appear to have escaped the burden of COVID-19. However, three players were sidelined and will miss this week’s opener, not due to COVID-19, but contact tracing.
Lemoore High School’s first football game – the home opener against Washington Union, is scheduled for this Friday (Aug. 20) in Tiger Stadium. Gametime is 7:30 p.m.
For the Tigers, 2020-2021 was certainly an unusual year as COVID-19 decimated high school sports and hindered coach Rich Tuman’s coaching debut. Lemoore High School played just two spring games – losing them both. The pandemic seemed even worse because the Tigers suffered a 48-7 loss to cross-county rival Hanford.
However, the coaches and players took last year’s two games in stride. “Just to play the two games was a win,” said Tuman, who is looking forward to a 10-game season and hopefully the Valley playoffs. Last year we started (the season) in June, and it didn’t end until April. We just hope COVID doesn’t get in the way.”
Things appear to be looking up, though, for local high school sports fans. Lemoore’s varsity football team, and a returning Tuman, have a full slate of games that, of course, ends in Hanford on Oct. 29 at 7:30 p.m.
Tuman is also high on his players, including quarterback Ty Chambers, a junior for the Tigers. “I Can see him going on into the future,” said Tuman. He’s also high on nose guard and offensive tackle Isaiah Morales. “He’s just one of those guys that’s always in condition. He’s got a high motor.”
Tuman is also pleased with his sophomore players. “We have six sophomores on the team that will probably start, and if not starting, they’ll be role players. We’re only going to start three of four seniors. It’s a young team, sure, but we’ll be competitive.”
The second-year head coach said Lemoore plans to open the season with a solid defense, referred to as a highly aggressive 3-4 defense. “We had a scrimmage last week against Tulare Western, and we looked good on both sides of the ball. Our defense looked really good. They came out and were aggressive. The first team gave up just two first downs.”
In other openers, Lemoore’s varsity girls’ volleyball team and its head coach, Valerie Burkett, opened the season on Tuesday (8/17) with a 6:30 p.m. game at Sunnyside High School. Then they will stay on the road Tuesday, Aug. 24, with a match at Tulare Union. The LHS ladies enjoy their first home contest on Aug. 26 when they host Edison High at 6:30 p.m. in the school’s event center.
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Athletics
- Lemoore High School's talented baseball center-fielder, Dominick Najar, recruited by Cal State East Bay
- Lemoore High School varsity baseball team continues winning streak after coming from behind to defeat Tulare Union
- Local talented female boxer, Lexus Ramirez, takes yet another step towards competing in 2024 Paris Olympic Games
- Lemoore High School's Demel Turner named West Yosemite League's Player of the Year in basketball as the Tigers were undefeated at 10-0 in league
- No. 1 Tigers fall in Central Section opener against Sunnyside, Tiger ladies fall at Porterville to end season
- Lady Tigers hoopsters outdistance Morro Bay in Division III playoff opener in Lemoore. Tigers take on No. 2 Porterville Thursday, Feb. 16