Freshman lose title to Columbia, finish 7-2

The Mountain Home Tigers freshman football team gave Columbia a tough battle last Thursday night in dropping a 26-18 contest to the unbeaten Wildcats from Columbia in the District III 4A freshman football championship game at Columbia.

A fumble recovery on the Columbia 34-yard line helped set up the Tigers' first score, as Juan Silva capped off the drive with a four-yard touchdown run.

The two-point conversion failed, but Mountain Home led 6-0 with 7:48 left to go in the first quarter.

Columbia answered the Tiger score with a quick one of their own, as Zach March hooked up with Keegan Curry on a 67-yard scoring strike. The PAT by Austin Gonzalez gave the Wildcats the lead, 7-6, with 6:57 left in the first quarter.

A Tiger fumble set up a short field for Columbia, and they scored early in the second quarter on a drive capped off by a three-yard run by Joseph Abrego. The PAT was not good, but Columbia led 13-6, a lead they took into the locker room at halftime.

A nice punt return by JT Cristobal helped set up a short field for Mountain Home home in the third quarter at the Columbia 31-yard line.

Juan Silva took it in from two yards out for the score. The two-point conversion try failed, and Columbia clung to a 13-12 lead with 3:20 left in the third quarter.

Columbia extended their lead early in the fourth quarter, Zach March hitting Sean Cooper on a 35-yard touchdown pass. With Austin Gonzalez's PAT, the Wildcats extended their lead to 20-12, with 11:51 left in the game.

The Tigers came back with another score later in the quarter, as Jake Hennessey pitched the ball to Alex Rodriguez, who passed to JT Cristobal for a 30-yard score. The two-point conversion failed, and it was 20-18, Columbia with 3:20 left in the game.

Joseph Abrego raced around the corner on Columbia's next possession and ran 73 yards for a score. The PAT was no good, so the Tigers were still in the game, although they trailed, 26-18, with 1:56 left.

Mountain Home got the ball on their own 34-yard line with 1:50 left, and moved the ball down the field to the Columbia 37-yard line. On the next play Columbia intercepted the pass to kill the Tiger drive, and the Wildcats then ran out the clock on the 26-18 win.

Tiger freshman head football coach Rick Suber was pleased with his team's effort.

"I thought our players played with great intensity and tremendous effort and showed huge improvement from our first encounter with Columbia when we lost 61-21. During that first meeting their running game just overpowered us, and I'm proud of the way our guys defended the run.

"I thought our offense made some clutch plays to keep the game even throughout the night, and I thought our offensive line played a commendable game in the face of their seven- and eight-man blitzes. We are disappointed with the final score, but we are so proud of the team! They gave it everything they had from the minute they stepped on the field for summer workouts until the final whistle tonight.

"Our entire coaching staff felt like it was a real honor to coach this group of young men, and we look forward to watching their development over the next few years."

The Tigers rushed for 112 yards, led by Juan Silva's 83 yards rushing. Austin Clark rushed for 40 yards, and Jake Hennessey was sacked three times for minus 11 yards.

Hennessey completed eight of 17 passes for 62 yards. He had one pass picked off. Alex Rodriguez completed a 30-yard pass for a touchdown. JT Cristobal caught four passes for 61 yards and a touchdown.

Tyler Knauth and Ricky Castillo both caught two passes for 19 yards, and Juan Silva had one catch for minus seven yards.

Mountain Home held Columbia to just 129 yards rushing. They had 140 passing yards.

The Tiger freshmen end the season 7-2 overall, their only two losses coming against Columbia, who went unbeaten.