By The Leader Staff
Lemoore quarterback Ty Chambers scrambles for a first down in Friday night's home game against Clovis West.
Lemoore quarterback Ty Chambers scrambles for a first down in Friday night's home game against Clovis West.
Photo by Bill Burris

Lemoore's surprising football team, after a pair of impressive season-opening wins over Selma and Washington Union, a couple of contests that showed off the Tigers' offensive strength as they accumulated 134 points in the two away games, fell to earth Friday night in Tiger Stadium, finding itself paired up against a solid and potent team Friday night in the Clovis West Eagles and dropped its season home opener 40-14.

On Friday night, in the Tigers' home opener, Lemoore fell behind early to the Eagles, a squad that efficiently racked up 20 first-half points while allowing the Tigers just a second-quarter touchdown, a Ty Cambers 24-yard pass to Preston Scott to cut the Eagles lead to 17-7   

Clovis scored on a 21-yard  field in the first period with about three minutes left in the quarter. Then, with about a minute remaining in the opening quarter, Clovis quarterback Ryan Markarian completed a 51-yard pass to Marshal Sanders for a touchdown and a 0-0 lead.

Markarian connected again in the second period, completing an 18-yard pass to Sanders for a 17-0 lead. With about a minute left in the first half, Clovis kicker Johnny Enriquez connected on a 15-yard field goal 20-7 halftime lead.

On a bad snap, Lemoore kicker Jayden Evangelo took a bad snap and ran for a first down against Clovis West.
On a bad snap, Lemoore kicker Jayden Evangelo took a bad snap and ran for a first down against Clovis West.
Photo by Bill Burris

Clovis held the Tigers scoreless for much of the second half, with the exception of a long Chambers pass to Scott that put the ball on the West two-yard line. Chambers carried the ball over for a touchdown on the next play, trimming the Clovis lead to 26-14.

In the fourth quarter, Markarian completed a 71-yard pass to Sanders for a touchdown and a 32-14 Clovis West lead, giving his squad a bit of breathing room between his players and the Tigers.

It wasn't until late in the final quarter that Clovis West upped their margin, scoring a 25-yard rushing touchdown and a final 40-14 lead.

Lemoore hits the road again on Friday, Sept. 9, when Coach Rich Tuman's 2-1 Tigers take on Sanger in a 7:30 p.m. game. Lemoore will have a week off before hosting South Bakersfield in a non-league game on Sept. 23 in Tiger Stadium.

Tiger offense stymied Friday night as powerful Clovis West football team finds Tiger Stadium appealing in 40-14 win.