The Lions roar at night …
State champion Ennis tops Tigers on road

By STEVE SNYDER
Lancaster News Editor

Say this for the Tigers — they don’t quit.

Despite trailing Ennis 35-0 at halftime, the Tiger offense mounted two third-quarter drives deep into Ennis territory. Unfortunately, both drives came up short as the Lions preserved their shutout in a 49-0 victory.

The game started out auspiciously for the Tigers, after Ennis received the opening kickoff. Brandon Slade picked off Ennis quarterback Graham Harrell’s first pass of the game on Ennis’ second play from scrimmage.

The Tigers were in good field position at the Lion 32-yard line, with a chance to put the first points of the game on the board. However,  Ennis showed that its state championships are due to defense and not just a high-octane offense.  The Lions shut the Tigers down on a three-and out series and got the ball back without any damage.

Starting from its own 20, Ennis marched 80 yards in eight plays to get its first touchdown of the night. Harrell ran the ball in from three yard out for the touchdown.

The Tigers then ran into the tough Ennis defense again on their next series.  Coach Andrew Jackson went back to A.D. Matthews, rather than Dionte Dean, to start Friday’s game. However, the Lions were ready to play tight defense against whoever was taking the snaps for the Tigers.  The result was a three-and-out drive.  A good punt by Joseph Thomas did put Ennis back a little bit.

Ennis started at its own 29 with this drive.  On this drive, Harrell mixed his own running and that of halfback Denard Cox with the passing attack.  He capped the five-play drive by keeping the ball and scoring from one yard out.

Then Ennis got the ball back again.

The Lions have a regular style of short pooch kicks.  They did one after their second touchdown. Unfortunately, Lancaster did not seem totally ready for it.  The ball was not fielded and Ennis recovered.

It took Ennis just three plays to score from the Tigers’ 45-yard line.  This time Harrell went to the air, hitting Jarvis Woodson from 18 yards out for the Lions’ third touchdown of the first quarter.

Ennis’ defense then played tough again.  The Tigers had another three-and-out series.

Ennis scored on their fourth consecutive series.  This time, it took the Lions seven plays to move 73 yards for their fourth touchdown.  Cox got the call this, carrying the ball in from seven yards out.

The Tigers then started to put a drive together on their next series from scrimmage.  They drove the ball for six plays before Matthews was intercepted by Ennis’ Frank Gutierrez.

This time, the Tiger defense stiffened, . The Lions eventually handed the ball back to the Tigers on downs.

However, the Tiger offense was unable to get going and had to punt the ball back to Ennis. This time it took the Lions just two plays to drive 67 yards, beating the first-half buzzer by just two seconds.

Ennis started the second half by picked up where they had left off in the first half.  Cox led the way, as he broke through the Tiger line for a 62-yard touchdown run on the second play of the drive.

The Tigers, who had been in the locker room nursing wounds and trailing by a 35-0 count, could have given up on the second half. But they didn’t.

On their first drive of the half, they put together a solid offensive performance.  With Dionte Dean behind center, the Tigers drove 59 yards in nine plays.  The Lion defense finally stiffened, though.

However, the Tigers were in field goal range. Andrew Bigley came out to try a 30-yarder.  But Matthews had trouble handling a difficult snap,  Bigley was unable to connect cleanly with the ball, and the Lions blocked the kick.

The Lions then marched back downfield for their last touchdown of the game.  But Lancaster still did not roll over.

The Tigers continued to show heart.  This time, they covered a pooch kick by the Lions and started at the Ennis 49.  The Tigers went seven plays before Cox intercepted a Dean pass and ended the threat.