After a dominant 40-0 win over the Northwood Gators, the LaSalle Junior High football team finished their season with a 4-3 record, the first winning record in five seasons.

The Tigers showed great improvement over the course of the season. In week one, the Tigers trailed 14-0 at the half against Delta Charter. The Tiger offense, led by eighth grader Mason Lee, would fight back to bring the score within six points. Mason Lee would call his own number for a rushing touchdown and later find Casen Maxwell on a passing touchdown. The Tiger defense would hold strong on Delta Charter’s final drive with crucial tackles from defensive linemen Noah Jordan and Casen Cockerham. The final score would be 20-14 after a nearly successful Hail Mary attempt by LaSalle in the final seconds.

In game two, the Tigers would beat Montgomery 36-6, with three total interceptions in the game by Mason Lee and Lane Burnham, and several tackles by defensive end David May. Running backs Jerik Beasley and Brayden Tannehill would both have touchdowns in this game. Week three consisted of another hard-fought loss against Delta Charter, 14-6, followed by another win at home against Montgomery, 14-8, with a key fourth down sack by linebacker Parker Brown to seal the victory.

Going into week five, the Tigers would travel to Buckeye and take the win 16-14. Jace Corley would start this game with a momentum shifting interception that led to a Tiger touchdown. The Tigers would have two Mason Lee to Lane Burnham passing touchdowns called back on two separate drives by a couple tough penalties. However, Mason would successfully find Lane for a third time to give the Tigers the lead late in the third quarter. Derek Valentine helped the defense in the fourth quarter with two touchdown saving pass breakups. The following week, La-Salle would take on Winnfield and suffer a tough loss after trailing 14-6 at the half. The final score would end up being 36-6.

In the final game of the season, the Tigers would show out on homecoming week with a flawless defense, holding Northwood to zero points. Running back Brayden Tannehill had a stellar performance, scoring a total of three touchdowns and over 200 yards rushing. Linebacker Luke Lasiter would score a defensive touchdown after a key forced fumble by Hunter Boyd in the final minute of the first half.

The Tigers look forward to building upon the success of this past season, led by an incredible group of 15 eighth graders – Parker Brown, Ty Brown, Lane Burnham, Casen Cockerham, Jace Corley, Tanner Dulaney, Lukas Goodman, Braydon Howard, Noah Jordan, Jessie Langley, Mason Lee, David May, Charlie Seaward, Derek Valentine and Drew McCarty. It will be exciting to see the impact these student athletes make at the high school level.

Congratulations on a great season! Geaux Tigers!