Last night the 7th grade "A" team Tigers hosted the Lewis & Clark Middle School Trailblazers at Slaughter Field.  Most of the first quarter was a defensive struggle with both teams feeling each other out.  The Tigers managed the first points of the game on a Jonathan Hedrick interception returned for a touchdown.  The Trailblazer quarterback was under heavy pressure from the Tiger defense which led to the errant pass.  The Tigers were unable to tack on the 2 point conversion but took the 6-0 lead and kept that lead going into halftime.  Coming out of halftime, the Tigers received the kickoff and promptly cranked out a sustained drive dominated by long runs by Kaiden Cruz.  Cruz's nifty moves and the gaping holes created by the Tiger offensive line led by Demetrius Shells resulted in another touchdown.  The 2 point conversion was again unsuccessful but the Tigers increased their lead to 12-0.  The Trailblazer offense stayed with their passing attack in the second half and scored on a long touchdown pass when their receiver got behind the Tiger secondary.  They managed to cap the touchdown with a conversion to close the gap to 12-8.  Momentum seemed to swing to the Trailblazer side and their defense rose up stuffing the ensuing Tiger drive.  Facing a 3rd and long and not wanting to give the ball back to the inspired Trailblazers, Tiger quarterback Bishop Godwin ran for the first down on a brilliantly executed bootleg play.  This key play got the ball out of Tiger territory, a new set of downs and a chance to chew up more clock.  Ultimately, that drive stalled and the Tigers were forced to punt.  Mason Perez who had punted fantastic all night pulled off another long punt to pin the Trailblazers deep in their own territory.  The Trailblazers now behind and running out of time tried to keep the passing game going but the Tiger defense led by Tau Asi, Cameron Cooper, David Fullington and Triston Wallace put constant pressure on the Trailblazer quarterback.  The Tiger secondary led by safety Rayshaun Fowler and cornerbacks Tyrell Phinn and Elijah Griffin put the clamps on any hopes of the Trailblazers scoring throught the air.  Facing 4th and long from inside their own 20, the Trailblazers tried one final time to get the ball down the field with a pass but with all the receivers covered and no one to throw to the Blazer quarterback was sacked for the turnover on downs.  The Tigers iced the victory with another rushing touchdown by Cruz and the conversion was successful with a Godwin to Perez pass.  Final score: Tigers 20 Trailblazers 8.  

The next game for the Tigers will be against the Thomas Jefferson Middle School Patriots in Jefferson City next Thursday Sep. 27th.