Tigers still looking for first victory

By STEVE SNYDER
Lancaster News Editor

The Lancaster Tigers went into last Friday’s game hoping the start of District 16-4A play would give them a new lease on life for the season.  However, it was not to be the case

Despite a valiant effort, the Lancaster Tigers were unable to start District 16-4A play on the right foot.  Traveling to Corsicana, the Tigers lost by a 28-0 margin, leaving the team still looking for its first win.

Defense was the theme of the game, as the two teams combined for less than 100 yards from scrimmage in the first half.  However, the Tiger defense appeared to tire out in the second half, and Corsicana got untracked offensively.

The Tigers started out full of fire — and of daring.

The Tigers appeared to be stymied after a three-and-out opening drive.  But the thing was, it wasn’t a three-and-out series after all.

Coach Andrew Jackson had the team go for it on fourth-and-one from its own 29.  And they got the first down.  However, any momentum from that first-down pickup failed to carry over. The Tigers ran three more plays on the drive and were stopped with too far to go to try another fourth-down play.

Corsicana took over at its own 41-yard line after the Tiger punt and a return.  The difference in field position — Corsicana starting its first drive at its 41 and Lancaster starting at its 20 — was a key theme of the game.

Corsicana’s Tigers picked up one first down and then had to punt back to Lancaster.  Their punt pinned the Tigers in a hole at the 9-yard line.

A three-and-out series and a short punt gave Corsicana the ball in prime position at Lancaster’s 31-yard line.  And the southern Tigers didn’t waste the advantage.

Seven plays later, the Tigers were in the end zone on a seven-yard run by Clarence Robinson.

The rest of the half was a defensive struggle.  The two teams exchanged one-first-down drives, then three-and-out-drives. Lancaster had the ball once more before halftime and picked up one first.  Corsicana started three of its four first-half drives in Lancaster territory, a situation that continued in the second half.

After a 7-0 halftime lead, Corsicana’s Tigers posted a touchdown in the third and two more in the fourth, keeping the ball most of the half.

Corsicana started from its own 37 to start the second half, the only time all game it would start inside its own 40 yard line.  They could not move the ball and had to punt.

An excellent kick pinned the Tigers back on their own 3-yard line.  Unable to move the ball, they punted back. Corsicana got the ball at the Tiger 26, but failed to score, as kicker Martine Barroso missed a 24-yard field goal, blocked off of a low, mishit kick.

However, Lancaster now had the ball at its own 1-yard line.  After a three-and-out series, their punt gave the ball to Corsicana at the Tiger 32.

Three plays later, Corsicana was on the board again as Robinson scored from 11 yards out.

Corsicana then scored on its next two possessions to wrap up the game.

The Tigers tried opening-day starter A.D. Matthews at quarterback, replacing Dionte Dean, who had started this game and the previous one against Waxahachie.  The Tigers picked up one first down but then had to punt.

Once again, Corsicana got the ball in Lancaster territory.  From the Tiger 46, they struck in just four plays.  Robinson, having a big night, scored from 39 yards out.

Dean then came back in at quarterback, but the offense still couldn’t move the ball against a tough Corsicana effort.  The Tigers picked up one first down, hen had to punt.

This time, Corsicana at least had to start in its own territory.  But they had their best offensive series of the night, driving 53 yards in eight plays to score their last touchdown of the night.

The Tigers struggled to get untracked all night offensively against a tough Corsicana defense. The results showed up on the stat sheet, as the Tigers wound up with less than 80 yards in total offense and failed to cross midfield the entire game.