The Tigers’ District 2-6A opener on the road at Grande Communications Stadium was everything a fan of Texas high school football could ask for. Over 1,200 yards of total offense, multiple Division 1 college recruits, a scoop and score, and 95 points on the board. It was a barn burner in Midland and although the Frenship squad came out on the losing end going down 59-36, there were plenty of positives for a Tiger team that’s on the rise in 2019.
The Tigers (4-2, 0-1) struck first on a Donovan Smith rushing touchdown and the Rebels answered quickly with a 34-yard strike, but then the Tigers reeled off 21 unanswered points and jumped out to a 28-7 lead as the first quarter closed. Klein Coker hauled in a 30-yard touchdown strike from Smith and then Alyjah Garcia forced a fumbled by the Rebels ball carrier and Jake Gilbert was there to scoop it up and take the recover 25 yards to the house. Drew Hocutt then hauled in a big 49-yard pass from Donovan Smith to close the quarter. Unfortunately, that offensive rhythm would elude Frenship for much of the rest of the game.
The Rebels roared back with a 36-yard touchdown pass to Loic Fouonji, the four-star recruit looking at Texas Tech and the University of Texas. Donovan Smith was called for intentional grounding from the endzone despite a receiver being in the area, and the Tigers were charged a safety. The free-kick went back to the Rebels and they scored two more before the half on a 2-yard run and another long strike to Fouonji, this time from 57-yards out.
Trailing 30-28 at the half the Tigers kept it interesting in the third quarter holding the Rebels to only one score. But they reeled off two more rushing touchdowns in the fourth. The Tigers pulled it back within two scores on a 24-yard touchdown pass to Drew Hocutt and a 2-point conversion to Jordan Maden but the comeback was not to be.
Donovan Smith led the Tigers’ offensive attack going 20/30 for 401 yards, 3 touchdowns, and he tossed a 2-point conversion as well. Smith also chipped in another 23 yards and a touchdown on the ground in 13 rushes. Smith, who is verbally committed to Texas Tech, immediately began receiving more statewide attention as he is now leading more highly rated dual-threat quarterbacks in the state in many statistical categories.
Smith’s favorite target on the night was Cooper Scott who posted 183 yards on 8 catches including a 56-yard long. Scott now joins Jordan Maden and Drew Hocutt, who have all had at least one huge receiving game this season. This week Hocutt had 4 catches for 86 yards and hauled in two of Smith’s three touchdown tosses. Klein Coker caught the other touchdown as part of his 4 catch, 72-yard performance. Jordan Maden had 2 catches for 66 yards and snagged a 2-point conversion toss from Smith.
Defensively the Tigers were led by Colton Anderson with 9 tackles on the evening and 2 tackles for loss. The Tigers took the ball from the Rebels three times on the night including a fumble recovered by Gilbert and another by Elijah Gomez. Stefano Sanchez also snagged an interception.
The Tigers will finally return to the friendly confines of Peoples Bank Stadium Friday night for a homecoming matchup with the Midland High Bulldogs (1-5, 0-1). The Lubbock Truck Sales Pre-Game Show can be heard at 7:00 pm on Double T 97.3, their mobile app, and www.doublet973.com. Keith Patrick and Chois Woodman will be on the call for the game which kicks off at 7:30 pm.