Tigers Beat Tornadoes 28-13

With two undefeateds going head to head, one would think that a close game would be expected, but the buzz coming into this game did not reflect that. However, this game was not decided until the 4th quarter.

From the appearance of the Tigers’ first drive, it would appear that they would have this one in hand by halftime. The drive was kept alive on 3rd down when Cody Tollison found Corey Sacks on a desperation pass that just happened to find its target 34 yards downfield. Orleans Darkwa, who finished the game with 254 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns, took one in from 4 yards out to put the Tigers ahead 7-0. On the Tornadoes’ first drive, they went 3 and out. It looked like all was going well for the Tigers until Orleans Darkwa suffered a shoulder injury and had to come out for 2 series in the 1st quarter.

After the Tigers’ second touchdown, which came from Rodney Anderson when he scored from 10 yards out towards the end of the 1st quarter, the Tornadoes gained wind. Trent Lusk and T.J. Kemp marched the ball down the field and scored on a 15 yard screen pass to John Burkus to cut the Tigers’ lead in half in the second quarter.

Late in the 2nd quarter, the Tigers forced a McCallie punt after a 3 and out from their own 12 yard line, giving Ensworth good field position at the McCallie 44. The Tigers drove the ball all the way to the 8 yard line to set up a 25-yard field goal from Clayton McGlasson. The Tigers didn’t end up capitalizing on the drive, however, since the field goal was pushed wide right. The Tigers only led 14-7 at the half.

Fortunately for the Tigers, the scoring picked up in the 3rd quarter when Nantambu Fentress gave them a short field following an outstanding diving interception. Ensworth drove the ball 36 yards to set up a 4 yard touchdown pass from Cody Tollison to Corey Sacks. Before his touchdown, Sacks had dropped 2 would-be touchdown grabs, but he redeemed himself when he put the Tigers up 21-7 in the 3rd quarter.

McCallie answered back at the beginning of the 4th quarter on their next drive when they got the ball at the Ensworth 39 yard line after Darkwa’s fumble. Trent Lusk hooked up with Keenan Hale for a 10 yard score wide open across the middle. Hudson Brock missed the extra point attempt wide right, which kept the score at 21-13.

Orleans Darkwa led the next Ensworth drive, which culminated in a 27 yard touchdown run on 4th down, widening the gap to 28-13.

With 4:54 left to go, the Tornadoes drove the ball down to the Ensworth 16 yard line before turning the ball over on downs, which ultimately sealed the victory for the Tigers. The final score was 28-13.

Orleans Darkwa broke the school record for career touchdowns with his second of the night, which put him at 49 for his career, 1 ahead of Tavarres Jefferson. The Tigers will take on the Smyrna Bulldogs at Smyrna next Friday.