Head Coach Dave McCrory’s Tigers are not what their 0-4 record suggests.
On Friday, the Tigers lost to Noxapater, 34-13, which is also misleading.
A second quarter 17-yard touchdown pass from senior Kendal Dotson to junior Izik Stewart tied the game at 6-6, against the 1A mainstays. EHS would have led going into the half, had a 65-yard punt return by sophomore Alex Schuster not been called back due to a block-in-the-back penalty.
Two third-quarter TDs by Noxapater gave the visitors a 20-6 lead and the inexperienced hosts reason to quit – but, they did not. An early fourth-quarter touchdown made it 26-6, yet the Tigers fought back.
EHS responded with a second six-point strike from Dotson to Stewart, this time from 55 yards out.
Noxapater scored with a couple minutes remaining in the game, making 34-13, which was the final score, but almost was not because the Tigers were not surrendering.
The last play of the game was a scrambling 75-yard run by Dotson that came up one yard short of being a touchdown.
“If we had just played our game, you know, and not let bad calls effect us,” McCrory said, as he took a deep breath and exhaled as if he were coming to grips with an outcome he believes could have been different.
“Noxapater is a really good program,” he said. “I think it showed our kids that if we play a clean game and just do our job, we can play with anybody.
“It was the first time since I’ve been here that our kids showed that kind of confidence.”
Dotson finished with 126 yards on 5-of-9 passing, including the two touchdowns, no interceptions and ran for another 90 on nine carries. Stewart totaled 64 yards on three catches and the two touchdowns. Sophomore Luther Clark finished with 40 all-purpose yards.
McCrory said he has heard some positive feedback from coaches who have reached out to him, after watching Ethel film.
The Tigers next game is Friday, when they travel to Walnut Grove and face Leake County. Game time is 7 p.m..
