In this week-7 matchup, the LaSalle Tigers faced the Northwood-Lena Gators in what shaped up to be a great football game. Both teams are reliant on the running game to move the ball, and the Gators had the size advantage up front, providing a challenging battle in the trenches all night long.
This adversity was good for the young team to face as they get into the tough part of their schedule starting next week. With a mixture of passing, 4th-down conversions and defensive stops when it mattered the most, the LaSalle Tigers are now on a sixgame win streak for the first time in over a decade!
In the 1st quarter, the Gators began a successful ground attack starting with the first play of the game being a 40-yard run and then a fullback dive up the middle to make it 6-0.
The Tigers had to work from behind a couple drives but they found a break with a mishandled snap from the Northwood punter that put them deep in Gator territory. The Tiger response came in the form of a 23-yard passing touchdown from Tuff Steet to Alex Richmond, followed by a successful two-point run in from Wyatt King to make it 8-6.
In the 2nd quarter things looked promising as Street completed another 20+ yard pass to Richmond, but the Gators got an interception inside the ten to halt momentum for the time being. The Tiger defense forced another three and out and got the ball back, and began the ground attack which featured all of the Tiger running backs; but the one to see the endzone was Jessey Stowe on a 6-yard touchdown run. Following another two-point run in by King, the score was now 16-6 It appeared the Tigers were poised to run away with it but the Gators fought back yet again with some tough running by their running back and a quarterback scramble for a touchdown. Pair that with a reverse for the two-point try and it was now 16-14 before the half. The Tigers were in throwing distance for a last play – a long ball touchdown – but it was intercepted to close out the quarter.
To start the second half, it was clear the Tigers were going to have to go the dis- tance to get the job done and in the opening drive of the 3rd they did just that. Wyatt King got the call numerous time and finally scored on a 2-yard touchdown run and two-point conversion, but not before draining six minutes off of the clock.
The Gators responded with a time-draining drive of their own capped off by converting on 4th and goal with a 10yard TD pass and QB scramble for the twopoint conversion to what looked like was about to be a shootout.
The 4th quarter proved to be the exact opposite however as both teams’ defenses took it upon themselves to put the game away. The Gators stopped the Tigers for a turnover on downs in their own territory, but the Tigers returned the favor and did the exact same thing on the following drive.
Aidan Billingsley and Richmond shined making yard-stopping tackles and key pass breakups to keep the Tigers in control of the 4th. The Tigers could not be stopped from the draining the clock masterfully to end the game and they held on to make the final score LaSalle 24, Northwood- Lena 22.
After a dramatic turnaround from week 1 the Tigers have won six straight making them 6-1 overall and 2-0 in district. The most important work is ahead however – the “meat” of the schedule begins this week as they travel to Natchitoches to take on St. Mary’s. Be sure and take the short hour drive to Turpin Stadium and support the boys as they try to make it 7 in a row!
