The Ethel Tigers rebounded from a road-loss to Enterprise-Lincoln last week in a big way, defeating Houlka (0-1) 22-0 to move to 1-1 on the year.
The Tigers found the end zone with just 2:12 left in the first quarter when Akeem Erving jumped on a Houlka fumble for a touchdown. Corey Felton ran in the two-point conversion and the Tigers led 8-0. With just 40 seconds remaining in the first quarter Julius Erving raced 41 yards for another Tiger touchdown and after a Hayes Wood to Erving pass for the conversion, Ethel led 16-0.
The Tigers took the 16-0 lead into the half and would not score again until the fourth quarter when Sean Williams ran one in from eight yards out with 5:10 remaining in the contest, conversion failed, to push the final score to 22-0.
The Ethel Tigers had 156 yards of total offense while holding Houlka to just 20 total yards of offense. Williams led the Tigers in rushing with 68 yards on 15 carries and one touchdown while Erving ran for 39 yards on just three carries with a touchdown and had one catch for 12 yards. Wood was 1-of-3 through the air for 12 yards.
“They played a heck of a ball game both offensively and defensively,” said Tiger head coach Hogan Briscoe. “I’m excited to see where we will be after next week and after the Noxapater game.”
The Tiger defense was led by Tykevin Wade with 10 tackles and a sack, Corey Felton with eight tackles and three sacks, Tanner Reeves with three tackles and two TFLs, Daquannay Dotson with five tackles and two TFLs and Jacob Stander with eight stops and two TFLs.
The Tiger win was also the first career win for first-year coach Briscoe.
“There will never be another day to replace this night in my heart,” said Briscoe. “I told the kids that it (winning that ball game) meant more to me than they will understand. It’s all well and good but I’m more proud that they went out there and took a victory for themselves.”
Even after the win, Coach Briscoe feels that there is plenty they can do to get even better.
“There are still some things here and there that we can shore up on both sides of the ball in my opinion,” he said. “In my opinion you are never going to go out and not need to practice. You can always get better and thankfully we have an off-week to heal some bumps and bruises to get ready for Noxapater.”
The Tigers will be back in action next Friday night, September 9, when they host Noxapater at 7 p.m.
