Line play leads the Tigers over the Lions 21-6 @bethelTsports @AthleticsCcpa @Coach_Pflug @Sm1thMark

Tagged under: Beyond The Keystone, Game Photos, Gameday Hub

David Burnworth | August 22, 2021

What has turned into one of the places I really enjoy going to Willard R. Stargel Stadium was the scene of the heat-shortened game played between the Bethel Tate Tigers and Cincinnati College Prep Academy Lions. The Tigers defense stole the show with a dominating performance. Unofficially they held the Lions offense to a total of 41-yards including a negative 21 in the first half. On both sides of the ball, it was the Tigers lines who dominated. They might have been smaller, but they definitely were faster, more determined, and they at least in this one looked to be in better shape and more well-rounded overall as linemen. The Lions talented quarterback Mark Smith was sacked multiple times, pressured each time he dropped back to pass, and more times than not when he was forced to run he had no place to go.

The Tigers offense just missed converting a fourth and four the only thing that stopped them was Gauge Dunn dropped a pretty pass. When they took the field for the first time the Tigers defense showed just how dominating they were going to be. Forcing the Lions into a fourth and seventeen they would get a sack on Smith for a 12-yard loss by Blake Brookenthal. With the game, still, scoreless the Tigers defense would get Derrick Blount for a 6-yard loss. The Tigers defense then would pick Smith off with Ashton Wolfe doing the honors. On the ensuing drive, Dunn atoned for his earlier drop with a 20-yard catch. Dunn next would haul in another 20-yard catch on a pretty pass thrown by Cameron Snider. The Lions defense would get a sack of their own when Da’Ve-Ontae Dunson teamed up with Donald Baily to get to Snider for a 15-yard loss. The last big play of the scoreless opening act came when Dunn was tackled for a loss of three by Mikel Page after the catch.

Just fifty-two seconds into the 2nd quarter Smith was under heavy pressure on fourth and ten, he turned the corner kick in the after-burners to somehow pick up 11-yards. Raeshaun Clark was hit by Dunn, Nick Owens, and Ethan Molloy after making a catch with the result being a 4-yard loss. With 5:36 left in the half facing a fourth and three, the Tigers got a 23-yard touchdown run from Wyatt Burton, who easily broke a tackle on his way to pay dirt. Aaron Sandker nailed the point after kick making this a 7-0 game. Smith got no protection on the next Lions drive and he paid a deep price because of this when he was blasted by Brookenthal for a 7-yard loss. Smith again would be left unprotected a short time later and again was sacked, this time by Nolan Barnell for an 8-yard loss. The Lions defense showed some life at the 3:15 mark of the quarter when Tayeshawn Harrell got to Snider for a 7-yard sack. Burton, who was covered like a blanket by Isiah McConnal somehow came away with a Davante Adams type of catch.

The third quarter, which turned out to be the final act due to the heat index rule was the most offensive act of all. Smith had no time to throw so he used his speed to pick up around 40-yards. The Tigers defense reacted by ending the drive a short time later. With 8:28 left in the quarter, Mikel Page got a pick for the Lions and returned it close to 30-yards to the Tigers 24-yard line. Smith would take a short drop back and with little tie to throw the ball he found Donald Bailey for a 22-yard score to make this a 7-6 game. The Tigers would need just one play to answer the score with Snider find Dunn 15-yards behind the defense for a 69-yard score, after the Point after kick we had a 14-6 game, with 7:11 left in the quarter. Snider again found a receiver wide open and he again put the ball on the money allowing Burton to score from 48-yards out giving us our final score of 20-6. The Tigers defense got to Smith for a 6-yard loss, with Hunter Darnell doing the deed. Nick Owens would pick Smith off after Smith basically had to throw the ball up for grab as he had no time to do anything else. The Lions defense would make the last big play of the game with Dunson sacking Snider for a loss of 7-yards.

UNOFFICIAL STATS

Tigers

54 Plays

290 Yards

Passing 15-29 3 TD’S 1 INT

Lions

47 Plays

41 yards (Minus 21 in the first half)

Passing 7-21 1 TD 1 INT