Specialty teams are usually stronger on the defensive side early in the high school football season, but that wasn't the case in Friday night's 15-14 Tiger loss at Lebanon.  The Yellowjackets got three field goals from junior Kendrick Tiller, including a 47-yarder in the waning minutes to come from behind and beat the Tigers. 

Tiller kicked 28-yard and 27-yard field goals in the first quarter for an early 6-0 LHS lead, but after Jackson Haedt recovered a blocked punt, Tiger QB Varon Martinez hit Nigel Farmer for a 17-yard td pass.  Sam Thompson converted and the Tigers led 7-6 at the end of the opening quarter.  A five-yard scoring pass shortly before halftime put the Jackets up 12-7 into the locker rooms. 

But on the Tigers' first possession of the second half, Martinez found Seth Hedrick with a short pass on the right side and the Tiger wide receiver displayed some shake and bake to get free near the sideline.  Eighty-three yards later he sailed in to the end zone.  Thompson again converted to make it 14-12.  It appeared the Tigers might win by that score until Tiller hit from NFL distance. 

But the Tigers weren't done.  Hedrick returned the kickoff to the Tiger 45.  A Lebanon personal foul moved the ball to the LHS 40.  A pass interference penalty put it on the 25 and a pair of gainers gave the Tigers a first and goal from the ten. However,  things broke down for Waynesville at that point and Lebanon was left gasping with its narrow win. 

The Tigers had nearly 90 yards more in total offense and also had the edge in first downs, but fell to oh and two on the season.  Senior running back Jalen Thomas gained 138 yards on 20 carries.  The Tigers return home Friday for a matchup with the Hillcrest Hornets.