_0.jpg)
WYL champs complete 8-3 season as visiting Mission Prep outlasts Tigers in Friday night thriller
The season-ending loss for Coach Rich Tuman's Tigers left them at a respectable 8-3 after winning a West Yosemite League championship despite a league-ending loss to Hanford. The No. 10 ranked Royals will match up with No. 2 Bakersfield in a Nov. 11 contest in the second round of the playoffs.
The Tigers, while bruised following their hard-fought game in Tiger Stadium Friday night, and while soothing their many bruises, got some good news, as the West Yosemite League coaches placed seven Tigers on the league's al league first team, including the league's lineman of the year, Isaiah Morales.
First Team, West Yosemite League picks include:
Ty Pele-Chambers – quarterback
Manuel Cunha – center
Elijah Barnes – left tackle
Demel Turner – free safety
D-Marcus Watson – strong safety
Jose Nino – outside linebacker
Miguel Rodriguez – defensive end
Second Team
Andrew Moench – running back
Cory Whitmore – wide receiver
Kanoa Perkins – offensive line
Honorable Mention
Demel Turner – wide receiver
Kobe Green – wide receiver
Emerson Jackson – Offensive line
Elijah Daley – defensive back
Gio Quintero – inside linebacker
Gustavo Rea-Huizar – linebacker
Jonah Campos – defensive end
Friday's loss was the Tigers' only loss at home this year as the Royals scored twice in the second quarter, and after the Tigers pulled to within two points in the third quarter, they managed to outlast Lemoore's comeback bid.
The team teams were scoreless in the first quarter as Mission Prep's Jack Susank scored on a three-yard rushing TD to put his squad up 7-0 with the extra point.
Lemoore's quarterback, Ty Chambers, orchestrated the Tigers' first touchdown, a 16-yard pass to Cory Whitmore, to close the ranks to just one point. Lemoore failed on the point after attempt ad still trained 7-6.
With just under a minute to play in the first half, Mission Prep's Colby White scored on a one-yard play to put the Tigers up 14-6, including the extra point.
With about eight minutes left in the third quarter, Chambers struck again, this time with a one-yard rushing touchdown to cut the gap to 14-12. Furthermore, the Tigers' conversion attempt – a two-point try – failed but still left Lemoore within striking distance of victory.
The Tigers managed to get close, but Prep's defense, including an interception as the Tigers threatened at the Royals 16-yard line, ended a Tiger threat with about three minutes in the third p0eriod.
Mission Prep's Susank scored his second touchdown with about 11 minutes left in the fourth quarter. His touchdown, and extra point, put his squad up 21-12.
The Tigers fought back ferociously, including connecting on a Chambers long pass to Cory Whitmore to put the ball at Mission Prep's 20-yard line as the Tigers threatened to score. However, the Royals intercepted a Tiger pass at their 14-yard line to end the Tigers' threat.
With just minutes remaining, Lemoore had the ball on Mission Prep's 25-yard line when Prep's Jack Susank intercepted a Tiger pass on his one-yard line, and the game ended just moments later.
