Tiger second-half woes continue
Tigers start district play this Friday

By STEVE SNYDER
Lancaster News Editor

The Lancaster Tigers had yet another competitive first half, this week against the Waxahachie Indians. However, as in the previous two games, the second half was a different story. The result was a 28-6 victory for Waxahachie.

The Indians struck first. Pinned deep in their territory at the 2-yard line in the second quarter, they methodically marched 98 yards in 13 plays for the opening score. The Tigers had the Indians pinned on third down, still inside their own 10-yard line, but the Indians picked up the first down, the first of several on the long scoring drive. The Indians nearly shut themselves down, picking up two holding penalties on the drive. But they overcame them, as well as the poor field position, to post the score.

However, despite the failure to get a defensive stop, Lancaster kept its spirits up. The Tigers came right back with a Kendrick Gilbert 7-yard run, following a 40-yard dash the play before. A blocked extra point left the Tigers down 7-6.

The game was a defensive struggle for much of the first half. The Tigers had a good chance to get on the board with the opening drive of the game, but hurt themselves. They started at their own 40, and picked up one first down to get into Waxahachie territory. But two consecutive dropped passes after that forced the Tigers to punt.

Waxahachie, though, could do no better throughout the first quarter. And they were in a generous mood. The Indians’ first drive ended with a fumble after six plays. However, the Tigers were unable to put anything together, having to punt after a three-and-out series.

Waxahachie had to do the same thing; then Lancaster had the same results on its next series. The Indians then were charitable again, fumbling the ball back to the Tigers. However, Lancaster again could not pick up a first down and had to punt.

The next series, the Indians launched their 98-yard touchdown drive.

After the Tiger touchdown, the Indians were stopped and forced to punt. The Tigers then had time run out on them in the first half.

The two teams were nearly even in first-half yardage from scrimmage. However, that changed in the second half.

The second half opened with a little excitement, though. Trying to get on the scoreboard first, Coach Andrew Jackson opted for an onside kick to the Indians. The gamble failed, though, giving the Indians the ball at their own 42. But, Waxahachie started the second half just like the first half, fumbling the ball away to the Tigers. Shawn Madise recovered.

The Tigers picked up one first down, but then had to punt. And this time the Indians weren’t in a generous mood.

Waxahachie marched 62 yards to paydirt in just four plays. The key was Marquis Dansby’s 38-yard run, which put the Indians on the scoreboard again.

But the Tigers had plenty of fight themselves. Starting from their own 34, they drove down the field into Indian territory. However, the Tigers were unable to convert a fourth down at the Indian 20-yard line and had to hand the ball over. And that was as close as the game would get.

They marched 80 yards in seven plays, overcoming a holding penalty that wiped out a big gain. Fullback Lane Rust scored from 22 yards out to increase the Indian lead to 21-6.

With just over nine minutes left, the Tigers needed to put together another drive, and put points up on the board at the end of it. However, the team went three and out. And, starting with poor field position at their own 11-yard line did not make matters easier.

As a result, after the Tiger punt, the Indians were at the Tiger 36, in easy scoring distance. They took seven plays, and plenty of fourth-quarter clock time, to cover those yards. Rust scored the final touchdown with less than four minutes left in the game.

Jackson expressed his frustration at the difference between first- and second-half performance.

“We keep repeating ourselves,” he said. “It’s time to change. (We need to) will ourselves to make plays in the second half — plays our kids are capable of making. We’re trying to instill a hard work ethic.

“Most of the guys are doing everything they’re supposed to; we’re just trying to find who to get out there.”

Looking ahead to this week, Jackson said Corsicana ran a lot of different offensive sets and were a pretty good passing team. The Tigers open district play at Corsicana at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 11. Corsicana’s stadium is located on the west side of town on Hwy. 22.