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Pauley, Johnson win MVP award at first annual Mountain Home High School Alumni Football Game on Friday
Despite the inclement weather and torrential rains of last Friday's storms, a few hardy residents of Mountain Home made their way to Tiger Field for the first annual Mountain Home Alumni Football Game.
Graduates from as far back as 1974 to graduates from earlier this year donned the pads one more time and took to the field for a wet and wild gridiron battle between the Black Team and the White Team.
Before the game began, the spirit of the players was boisterous.
2009 graduate Kyle Kerfoot, who will soon be attending the University of Idaho, said that his reason for being in the game was that he loved the school and was willing to take whatever opportunity possible to play for the Tigers one more time.
"It's awesome, to get to meet all the guys from the past, hear their stories and share the field with them," he added.
2005 alumni Kendrick King-Gunning, fresh off of playing his first year of football for Minot State in North Dakota, couldn't wait to put the pads back on for Mountain Home.
"It's a good time, to put on the pads again and play with guys that I graduated with."
2007 alumni Kyle Clark, currently working in Boise, also expressed his feelings about the game.
"It's going to be interesting, I think it's going to be really fun and it'll be great to be a part of the team again."
1995 alumni Ken Cameron, who played QB for the black team, couldn't wait to hang out with some old friends. "It's pretty cool."
An hour prior to kickoff, residents continued to make their way to the field wearing rain coats and holding umbrellas, while several players made their way onto the field without pads and practiced by throwing footballs and running drills.
As the game began, the players' competitive spirit began to show for those who got to don the pads for the last time -- or some for the first time.
Although the resulting crowd was not the usual packed house for a Tiger football game, the cheers of "Go, Tigers" was heard throughout the field and helped to motivate the players, thus providing an atmosphere that in the end was similar to an actual Tiger football game.
1974 alumni Jeff Lord spoke on his reasons for being a part of the game: "I just wanted to play alongside my son (2008 graduate Colby Lord). It's been something I wanted to do all of my life."
The game concluded with the Black Team defeating the White Team, 12-6. The MVPs of the game were Tallon Pauley (2009 graduate -- Black Team) and Dutch Johnson (1975 graduate -- White Team).
Days after the game, Mountain Home coach Brian Floyd commented on the game's success.
"I think the crowd had fun, it was a real entertaining game to be a part of. I think all the players had a great time, it was great to hear their stories, and for them it was like they were back in high school again."