Hawks scratch out win over Tigers

By STEVE SNYDER
Lancaster News Editor

Coach Andrew Jackson tried something new to spark the Lancaster Tigers Friday night — a new quarterback. Shavar Wise was called up from the junior varsity to start the game. A.D. Matthews broke a finger against Ennis last week, meaning the varsity needed a second quarterback, and Jackson then gave Wise the start.

Unfortunately, while Wise has had a good JV season, the varsity game was another level of play.  While doing a decent job running the option, White struggled with the passing game. However, not all of the struggle was his.  Dionte Dean, who has split starting time with Matthews, also played Friday night. He, too, had troubles in the air attack, as both quarterbacks were sacked and intercepted.

As a result, the Tigers continued to struggle on offense, winding up with a 21-0 loss to the Hawks in their final home game of the year.  A grinding Red Oak ground game, combined with good field position, allowed the Hawks to control the game

It did not look to shape up that way at the start of the game.

The Hawks took the opening kickoff and picked up one first down, starting to put together a drive.  However, they fumbled the ball and Lancaster recovered.

But the Tigers were unable to do anything with the gift.  They ran off a three-and-out series and then punted the ball back to the Hawks.

A short punt of just 10 yards put Red Oak at the Tiger 37-yard line.  And they weren’t going to waste this opportunity.  The Hawks got down near the goal line, but then the drive stalled. However, Red Oak was determined to score, and score a touchdown.

They went for it on fourth and 10 from the 14-yard line rather than kick a field goal. Aaron McGinley made the gamble pay off with a 14-yard touchdown run.

The Tigers picked up one first down on their next drive, but then had to punt.  The defense held this time and forced Red Oak to a three-and-out series.

This time, the Tigers started putting a drive together.  Starting from their own 26, the Tigers ran off seven plays and seemed on the move.  But Wise was intercepted by Kevin Thomas, and the ball was returned to the Tiger 10-yard line.  Two plays later, fullback Eric Harris scored from a yard out.

However, the Tigers had more offense in them.  Starting from their own 37, they drove deep into Hawk territory.  The Tigers got all the way down to the Hawk 2-yard line with a third-and-goal situation.  Two straight cracks at the end zone, with Charles Johnson running between the tackles, failed to move the ball, though.

With less than three minutes left in the half, and the ball inside their own 10-yard line, it would make sense that Red Oak would play its next series conservatively.  And the Tigers may have thought the same.

But the Hawks had other ideas.  After getting stopped for a three-and-out series, they lined up to punt.  But they didn’t.

Running a fake, they completed a 29-yard pass.  They were unable to score before the end of the half, but kept the Tigers from getting the ball back for another drive.

The Tigers got the opening kickoff of the second half.  Their series ended after just three plays, with Dean being intercepted by Don Pruett on a deep pass.

Starting at their own 39, the Hawks put together their longest drive of the game.  They marched 61 yards for a touchdown in eight plays.  Quarterback Charley Duncan scored from six yards out to put the Hawks up by a 21-0 margin.

The Tigers were still game to keep fighting, though. Roderick Stewart, who has been recuperating from off-season injuries, had a 33-yard kickoff return to put the Tigers in Hawk territory at the 45-yard line.  However, the Tigers were unable to do anything with the ball.  They went for it on fourth down, but were unable to convert and handed the ball over.

The Hawks then chewed up most of the rest of the third quarter.  They were unable to score, but kept the ball for seven plays, almost all on the ground.

The Tigers eventually got the ball back at their own 14-yard line.  However, they couldn’t move the ball again.

Red Oak got the ball back at the Tiger 47, but they were then stopped themselves.  They went for the first down on fourth down, but were stopped short.

However, the Tigers immediately turned the ball over with a first-down interception.  The Hawks ran off six plays before surrendering the ball again on downs.

The Tigers, striving for honor and pride, with time running down in their last home game of the year, put together their best offensive drive of the second half.  They marched down to the Hawk 40-yard line, but eventually lost the ball on downs.  The Tiger defense then got the ball back, with Damone Shorten forcing a fumble and Matthews recovering.

The Tigers had the ball at the Hawk 25-yard line.  On their last possession of the game, they got inside the Hawk 10-yard line, but were unable to score.

The Tigers conclude their season this Friday at 7:30 p.m. on the road at Mabank.  To get to Mabank, take US 175 east out of Dallas and past Kemp.  Just after crossing Cedar Creek Lake, turn right at the road next to Clayton Mobile Homes.  Go about two miles and the high school and stadium are on a big curve to the left.