Turnovers take toll as Vikings slip past Tigers

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

The Mountain Home Tigers struggled offensively, especially in the first half, coming up short Friday night to lose to the Middleton Vikings 7-6 in SIC 4A conference football.

Three first half turnovers -- two pass interceptions and a fumble -- hindered the Tiger offense in the first half as the Vikings ran 32 plays to the Tigers 16.

However, the Mountain Home defense held the Vikings to just one score -- a 38-yard, eight-play drive capped off by a seven-yard run by Dean Coombs. With Deegan Anderson's point after, Middleton led 7-0 with 4:32 left in the first half.

"It was the exact same thing that happened in the Jerome game where we had a bad first half offensively," said Tiger head football coach Brian Floyd.

"We played good in the second half. It's frustrating at times because we can do that, and I thought that, even how bad we played, to come down to the end and have a chance to win it, we were right there with them."

That would be the only score until late in the fourth quarter when the Tigers got some big plays in an 80-yard, nine-play drive culminating in a 21-yard pass from Jake Hennessey to Tommy Miller for the score. Mountain Home attempted a two-point pass play to take the lead, but the pass fell incomplete and Middleton led 7-6 with 1:54 left in the ball game.

Mountain Home tried an on-side kick, but the Vikings recovered it and picked up a first down to keep the drive going and ran out the clock for the 7-6 win.

Coach Floyd was pleased with the Tigers' defense.

"They were put in some very bad positions. The whole second quarter Middleton was inside our 30, and they really stepped up. They're playing really well right now. Right now we just have to fix a few things on the other side, but that's the way that game would be -- a knock-down drag-out game."

Coach Floyd had no qualms about going for two when they scored late in the game.

"We do red zone stuff ... Monday through Thursday. We practice those things all the time, so I was pretty confident about that, plus our PAT kicking has been kind of erratic, and it was that way during the week at practice, so we're down there, I just said, 'let's go for the win.'"

Mountain Home rushed the ball 32 times for 141 yards. Tom Hennessey led the rushing attack with 67 yards on 14 carries.

Juan Silva had his best night of the season, rushing to 56 yards on eight rushes. Tommy Miller rushed five times for 17 yards, Curtis Jackson had one rush for two yards, and Jake Hennessey carried the ball four times for minus one yard.

Jake Hennessey completed three of eight passes for 53 yards and had his first touchdown pass of the young season. He also had two passes picked off. Tommy Miller caught one pass for 21 yards and a score, Deion Brown had one catch for 18 yards, and Trevor Woodruff caught one pass for 14 yards.

The Mountain Home Tiger defense held Middleton to just 165 yards on 49 rushes. Middleton did not have any yards through the air, as they were 0/3 passing. Middleton averaged starting on the Tiger 48-yard-line, so the Tiger defense was under a lot of pressure all night, but gave up just one score.

The Tigers have the next three games at home, starting with a night game Thursday against Columbia. Coach Floyd expects a tough game from the Wildcats.

"They're a good team, and they've got a quarterback who can really run the ball. Defensive-wise, they do some things to get you off-balance, so we'll have to work on those."

Kickoff is at 7 p.m. Thursday night at Tiger Field in Mountain Home. The game, which originally had been scheduled for Friday, was moved up one day because school is out of session Friday.

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Amazing, stats on the offense, but no stats for those players who held Middleton to just 165 yards. They deserve recognition as well.

-- Posted by TIGERDEFENSE on Wed, Sep 30, 2009, at 10:58 AM
Maybe the problem is they are running the ball most of the time, because the QB and WR are not up to PAR! They are learning, but are young and a lot of pressure was put on them and they just do not have the talent yet. Especially when you have first time SENIORS coming out and jumping on the football band wagon and taking positions from deserving better players. I say sit the whinning seniors and give the young juniors a chance. Look for next year. The coaches are doing an excellent job with what they have.

-- Posted by RoyalsFAN on Thu, Oct 1, 2009, at 8:47 AM
A big solution would be to get number 6 off of defense. He gets burned all the time and he is only interested in picking fights with the opposing players instead of learning and playing the game. I don't think the players can count on him.

-- Posted by BostonFanTOO on Thu, Oct 1, 2009, at 10:51 PM
I am here not to hide who I am like most. Hey BostonFanToo. Well you do not know your football very well.It is not picking fights, it is playing physical. Is your son playing? Maybe not huh? And as far as RoyalsFAN You do not know what you are talking about. The team went to the UNLV camp and in the MH news Coach Floyd stated that 6 (my son) was one of the top 3 rec at the camp. Which did include Texas, Nevada, California Hawaii, and Idaho They did and excellent job. For the Coach to state that in the newspaper there must be something there. And as far as the football band wagon, well that is not true as well. If it was not for the a couple players dad's and The Z man (which has coached #6 for many years and learned alot from him and respects him) on the team which has been playing football encouraged #6 to play is another issue. it is not a matter of the band wagon, it is a matter of the kid and the athletes that they are. Now as far as rediculing kids on here and I know who you are BostanfanToo, as far as putting kids down on a blog is totally wrong. I do not blog about your son who is not playing football.

So in a nut shell if you can't say anything positive at all do not type it. If your son is not playing leave it alone it does not effect you or your family. Finally if you want to come out from behind your "nickname" and come talk to me we will or I will anyway keep it positive and and proffsional and not cut your kids. Well maybe I forgot your kid might be perfect. and did you ever think about this could effect the kids if they are playing in another sport together? Come on be grown up and stop talking behind people's back. It gets back, remember we do live in a small town and you tell one person, it goes to another person. I have known for sometime who RoyalsFan is as well as many others has known. So please this is my last on the issue if you do have anything to say at all go to the parents. Do not put on the mask and talk about it. It is childish and be an adult and talk about it, instead of on a website.

-- Posted by R`Woody on Fri, Oct 2, 2009, at 2:37 PM
RWoody,

I call it as I see it. As far as the kids playing sports together this year, my kid can handle himself in what ever sport. Don't worry. As far as my kid being perfect, never said that, but I did say some kids deserve to be on the field before others.

-- Posted by BostonFanTOO on Fri, Oct 2, 2009, at 3:17 PM
Well BostonfanToo, if you have the guts to come talk to me then just come do it. If you cant, and need to hide behind the computer screen it shows that you are a coward. I can remember you all upset when your son did not play in baseball and you complained the coach did not know what he was doing. Your son is a great kid. Maybe he should be the parent and you the kid and he can teach you a thing or two. So all in all if you cant say something positive about a kid, come talk to those of us you are talking about, instead of, again behind a screen. So be an adult and not talk about the kids. *wink*

-- Posted by R`Woody on Fri, Oct 2, 2009, at 7:35 PM
RoyalsFAN:

So you pick one player off the team to pick on. Wow how mature is that. Too bad you have so much time on your hands to pick on a SENIOR. There are others who make mistakes also. I don't recall seeing him "pick fights" either, it is football for goodness sake!! Seems to me like you like to "pick fights". Grow up or get a life!

-- Posted by RanchGal on Sat, Oct 3, 2009, at 10:50 PM
WOW!! BostonfanTOO,

I was amazed to read what you posted!! I agree w/ the folks put on the board here. Where to you come from putting down kids on any website? You may need to look at your own kids and put them down, however you should never put a kid down on a site or even on a blog. From what I have heard and the people i have talked to that has gone to games, #6 is not fighting on the field. In fact from the understanding I have heard was the new coach (cant think of his name) however he has been proud of the way the kid is playing. In fact the way the kids are playing. And how can you say he has been burnt??? From the stats it looks like MH has the best defense in the conference. Do you have any proof to back the information you posted? From what I have gathered and by reading you last 2 comments, you are jealous of something. Not sure of what but jealousy gets you nowhere in life my friend. And I do have a favor to ask...Please change your nickname. A real Bostonfan would NOT put down a kid. So plz change that nicname to something like sourgrapes. And maybe get the facts before you run off with the fingers on a keyboard and like R'woody stated, get from behind the computer screen and talk about it face to face with someone....

-- Posted by Bostonfan on Tue, Oct 6, 2009, at 6:38 PM

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