FOOTBALL: Tigers overcome first-half troubles in victory against Ponderosa

%28GEORGE+HUGHES%2FEYE+OF+THE+TIGER%29

(GEORGE HUGHES/EYE OF THE TIGER)

JAMIE BATEMAN, DOMINIC TAYLOR

Last Friday the Tiger continued their winning ways with a 42-14 win over the Ponderosa Bruins. Senior running backs Jay Razzano and Brendan McMinn led the way on offense for the Tigers, as both had two touchdowns and over 100 total yards of total offense. Senior wide receiver Josh Clark added two touchdowns as well.

According to senior lineman, Nick Tucker, the game started slow but the Tigers only get better as the game went on.

“We started slow in the first half, but in the second half  we really put the foot on the gas pedal and were able to put it away,” Tucker said. “That has been our identity our year, and we have really played well in the second half.”

The win moves the Tigers’ win total to eight on the year and also puts them in a good place to potentially play a home playoff game. Tucker feels that the thought of the home game has driven the team to do better this season.

“Some of us got pulled up two years ago to play the playoff game at Del Oro and we all saw how tough that was,” Tucker said. “We really want to play at home because I think it might improve our chances to win.”

The Tiger will try to finish the season 9-1 next week when they will play in a rivalry game against the Oakmont Vikings.

JV

The JV football team won their ninth straight game and their sixth straight win in league last Friday in what was a battle of two previously undefeated powers; the Ponderosa Bruins and the Roseville Tigers.

The Tigers, however, showed why they deserve to be the number one team in the conference, beating the previously unbeaten and dominant Ponderosa Bruins by a margin of 35-7.

The Tigers defense showed up in a big way, with the Bruin’s seven points being the Tiger’s seventh time letting up two touchdowns or less and the fifth time letting a single touchdown or less. Even more impressive, the Bruins’ scoring and yardage came to a screeching halt all together in the third and fourth quarter as the Tigers did not surrender a single first down in the second half.

“I thought it was going to be a closer matchup, but we came out strong,” sophomore wide receiver Ben Baker said. “Our offense put it to them in the second half, and we came out on top.”  

Because the Tigers were able to win their toughest game of the season, they are basically guaranteed a championship and an undefeated season, with their last game of the season coming against the rival Oakmont Vikings.