The Ethel High School Tigers are 0-2 following Friday’s loss to Winona Christian, but Head Coach Dave McCrory does not believe the team is that far off.
“We’re moving the ball,” McCrory said. “We’re putting the ball on the ground too much.
“I think once that gets fixed, we’re going to be a good ball team.”
McCrory said center-quarterback exchange problems dug the team an early hole.
“We were down 13-0 before we could even blink, playing on a short field,” he said.
The deficit grew to 19, yet McCrory said players remained confident, telling him, “We still got this, Coach.”
Ethel got on the board before halftime on a 19-yard pass from Kendal Dotson to Jace Dean.
The visitors increased the lead to 25-7, before Kendal Dotson ran 64 yards for the Tigers second touchdown of the game, making the score a within-reach 25-14.
“We try to get (Dotson) the ball as much as we can,” McCrory said.
The Tigers marched down the field on the next possession and had the ball at the six-yard-line, before two false start penalties short circiuted the drive.
“We had opportunities,” McCrory said. “We have to take advantage of the opportunities that we’re given.”
Two fourth-quarter Winona Christian touchdowns made it 39-14.
“The defense gave us three extra chances,” the coach said.
Alex Schuster had an interception for the Tigers.
McCrory estimates that Dotson ran 25 times for 130 yards and Luther Clark 12 carries for 62. As a team, the Tigers totaled 220 rushing yards.
Despite the margin of victory, Ethel totaled 11 first downs, only two less than Winona.
