Tigers roar to victory over Nampa

The Mountain Home Tigers scored in the final two minutes of the game to beat the Nampa Bulldogs, 24-17, Friday night at Tiger Field in their SIC 4A conference football opener.

The win evened the Tigers' season record at 1-1.

Both teams scored on field goals to open the ball game.

The Bulldogs took the ball first, and moved from their 39-yard line down to the Mountain Home two before the drive stalled and Conner Smith booted a 22-yard field goal to give Nampa a 3-0 lead, with 5:54 left in the first quarter.

Mountain Home answered on their opening drive, set up by a 60-yard kick-off return by Josh Reynolds. The Tigers started on the Nampa 33 and moved the ball down to the Bulldog four-yard line before a holding penalty moved the ball back out to the 14.

Kyle Clark kicked a 31-yard field goal to tie the game at 3-3, with 1:47 left in the first quarter.

Nampa regained the lead in the second quarter, when Phillip Arias blocked a Kyle Clark punt and scooped up the ball and ran it in from 20 yards out for the score. Conner Smith's PAT made it 10-3, Nampa, with 8:27 left to go in the first half.

Mountain Home tied it before halftime, capping a nine-play 70-yard drive with a 40-yard run by Georgio Sutton for the TD. Kyle Clark's PAT tied the game at 10-10, with 1:07 left in the first half.

Mountain Home took its first lead in the game in the third quarter when a sweep by Georgio Sutton ended 50 yards later in the end zone for a score. Kyle Clark booted the PAT to make it 17-10, Tigers, with 3:05 left in the third quarter.

The lead held up until late in the fourth quarter, when Cody Badoni passed to Matt Michels for 40 yards and a score. With Conner Smith's PAT, the score was tied at 17-17, with 4:54 left in the ball game.

Sparked by a 39-yard kick-off return by Zacq Hale to mid-field, the Tigers moved the ball down the field, Bob Daniels taking it in from three yards out for the score. Kyle Clark's PAT made it 24-17, Tigers, with 2:03 left in the ball game.

Nampa had one final possession, and had moved the ball from their 32 out to the 45 before Bob Daniels intercepted a Cody Badoni pass at the Tiger 17-yard line to kill the drive.

Mountain Home then picked up a first down to run out the clock for a 24-17 victory.

Tiger head football coach Brian Floyd was pleased with the win, and had lots of praise for the defensive effort.

"Our defense really had a lot of guys step up. Josh Driskell (6' 3" 280 pound junior) stepped up and played a great game. This is his first year playing football. Tyson Sessions had another great game and was flying around especially on that third-and-goal play, when he stopped their guy and made them kick the field goal. We had some good efforts. We're getting better. We're young, but learning."

Georgio Sutton led the Tigers rushing game with 151 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 16 rushes. Tyson Sessions rushed for 47 yards on 11 carries. Zacq Hale carried six times for 36 yards, Bob Daniels had seven rushes for six yards and a score, and Nick Barrie carried once for one yard.

Through the air, Bob Daniels completed five of 13 passes for 46 yards Josh Reynolds caught four passes for 42 yards, Zacq Hale had one for four yards.

Mountain Home had 236 yards on the ground and 46 through the air for 282 total yards.

Nampa rushed for 93 yards and passed for 132 for 225 total yards.

The Tigers take to the road for the first time this season Friday night, when they travel to Vallivue to face the Falcons in conference play. The Falcons opened with a 34-20 loss to Madison last week.

Coach Floyd expects a tough game from the Falcons.

"They were young last year, so should have a lot of returners back. They did lose some of their guys in the secondary. Christensen was one of their main guys last year, and I think he was a senior, so I think they lost him. They lost by 14 to Madison last week, so we'll see how it goes."

Kick-off is set for 7 p.m. Friday night at Vallivue.