A battle of local junior-high teams took place Thursday evening on the field of Saint Mary’s. The home Tigers played the combined Magnet and Lab team.
The Warriors opened the game on offense and quickly went three and out facing tough Tiger defense. St. Mary’s scored first on a 69yard scamper by Jake Thibodaux, but the PAT kick failed, and Tigers led 6-0. The Saint Mary’s defense remained tough and forced a fumble from the Warrior’s on the next series.
Saint Mary’s got to within the Warrior ten before Gannon Sheffield coughed up the ball fumbling to Lab/Magnet. Unable to take advantage of the good fortune, the Warriors go three and out.
Sheffield responded on the next series with a 35-yard run setting up the Tigers at the Warrior 12, but he again fumbles on the QB to running back exchange. Tiger defense is again tenacious with back-toback tackles for loss (TFL) pinning the Warriors deep in their own territory. A great third down pass from #5 Cobe Jones to #15 moves the ball.
The Warriors return to the run game and are halted by the Tigers. Saint Mary’s would score again shortly after on a pass from Merritt Vandersteen to #9 Winn Cedars, 12-0 Tigers. Another fumble by the Warriors would reward the Tigers with the football. The 12-0 score would hold till the halftime break.
Initially unable to do anything in the third quarter, the Tigers #5 Waylon Bolton intercepted a pass from Jones but again come up dry. On the first play from scrimmage in the fourth, Jake Thibodaux again scores on a run of about 65 yards off the left side. This time the PAT off the toe of Sheffield is good, 190 Tigers. Big gains by the Warriors after that score would culminate in a touchdown by Jones on a busted play for about 20-yards to the endzone. The twopoint attempt was good, 19-8.
The Saint Mary’s offense responds with another 60+ yard run by Thibodaux. Saint Mary’s would be threatening to score again late in the fourth quarter but elect to kneel on the ball at the Warrior five and secure the victory 19-8. The Warrior’s coach stated that he was “proud of our kids, they fought hard for 4 quarters.”
Next up for the Warriors is another all-Natchitoches game as they face NJH nest Tuesday. Saint Mary’s coach Dudley Cedars on the win, “glad we got the win, but we need to clean up mistakes and stay focused and execute.” While the Tigers won the game, it was apparent that they felt they should have played better. Next up for the junior high Tigers is Alexandria rival Menard next Tuesday at home.