By The Leader Staff
Lemoore's Kobe Green reaches for a pass in the first quarter as the Tigers crushed visiting Selma 48-0 Friday night in Tiger Stadium.
Lemoore's Kobe Green reaches for a pass in the first quarter as the Tigers crushed visiting Selma 48-0 Friday night in Tiger Stadium.
Photo by Gary Feinstein

Lemoore’s varsity football team is off to a solid start as the potent Tigers – coming off a highly successful 2022 season – set the stage Friday for what appears to be another successful football campaign as a potent LHS squad held visiting Selma High School scoreless while putting up 48 points in the season opener Friday night in Tiger Stadium.

The Tigers, guided by the Tigers’ head coach, Rich Tuman, were led by Tiger quarterback Johnny Cunha, who completed 11 of 14 passes for 168 yards and four touchdowns. He also rushed for 42 yards. Two of his touchdowns fell into the hands of standout receiver Kobe Green who finished with four receptions to lead the Tigers.

Dameion Hernandez also played well, finishing with four catches and a touchdown.

Tiger back Aiden McDaniel, a junior, led the Tigers with 80 yards rushing on just four carries and ran for a score. Junior Terren McCoy rushed for 44 yards, his longest run for 19 yards. He also scored a touchdown for Lemoore.

Lemoore’s defense played well, shutting out the visiting Bears. Jace Silva led Lemoore on defense with eight total tackles, followed by Spencer Silva and D. Rodrigues, each with five tackles.

Lemoore's Damian Hernandez runs for a long gain in Friday night's victory over Selma in the season opener in Tiger Stadium.
Lemoore's Damian Hernandez runs for a long gain in Friday night's victory over Selma in the season opener in Tiger Stadium.
Photo by Gary Feinstein

The Tigers didn’t take long to strike first. Cunha’s first TD came early in the first quarter, followed minutes later by a Trevon Gaffney rushing touchdown to put Lemoore up 14-0 after Jax Evangelo’s point-after kick.  

Lemoore’s third touchdown came on a pass to Dameion Hernandez early in the second quarter as Lemoore took clear command of the game with a 21-0 lead, and with a minute left in the first half, the Tigers scored on a run to up the margin to 28-0.

Lemoore poured it on in the final minute, upping the margin to 35-0 at the half.

The Tigers host local foe Washington Union on Friday in Tiger Stadium. Gametime is 7:30 p.m. The Tigers will hit the road on Friday, Sept. 1, for a game against Clovis West.

Johnny Cunha looks to wide receiver Damion Hernandez in the first quarter.
Johnny Cunha looks to wide receiver Damion Hernandez in the first quarter.
Photo by Gary Feinstein

 

Lemoore's Kobe Green runs for a touchdown against Selma on a pass reception.
Lemoore's Kobe Green runs for a touchdown against Selma on a pass reception.
Photo by Bill Burris