Broken but Unbowed…The Tigers vs. the Wolves

The Winfield-Mt. Union Wolves came to town on September 1, and were every inch the #4 ranked 8-man team in the state. They are big and skilled and take no prisoners. They are playing to be in the Dome in November…and it will be a surprise if they aren’t. But enough about them.

As the dust cleared on their 78 to 16 victory, our boys left the field battered, and in some cases, broken but with their heads held high. They had finished the contest. But the cost was high. Two sophomore starters are finished for the season with broken bones. London Franklin had both bones in his right forearm broken and was taken to the hospital. Brigham Porter finished the game, but couldn’t move his shoulder by the time he got home. A Saturday morning trip to the ER disclosed a broken clavicle. He may be facing surgery. Senior Josiah Denney suffered a sprained hand and a trip to the ER. It was a tough night to say the least.

The evening started out with them scoring on their second snap and that kind of set the tone for what was to unfold. The Tigers scored twice in the 4th quarter as kind of a moral victory, but I am sure everyone, including Winfield, was glad when it was over. Good luck to the Wolves…now on to getting our Tigers nursed back to health, so they will live to fight another day!

QB Gavin Menke-Bailey was 11/20 passing for 132 yards, two TDs, and one interception. Cale Westerbeck caught three passes for 41 yards. Porter also caught three for 30 yards and one TD. Freshman Israel Lemley caught a pass for 37 yards and scored the Tigers’ other touch down. Logan Franklin caught two passes for 16 yards.

The Tigers gained 28 yards rushing on 23 carries. Menke-Bailey had 12 carries for 11 yards. Porter and London Franklin each carried the ball four times for seven and 10 yards respectively.

On defense Menke Bailey had 5.5 tackles. Porter had 4.5 and Corbin Jacobs-Jewell had four. Michael Raines and Nic Loyd each had three. Paxton Lindsey had two. Michael Raines and Lemley shared kicking duties, and Menke-Bailey and Westerbeck each had a successful two-point conversion.

It was good to welcome back Senior Michael Raines from an injury suffered last year. To London and Brigham… Tiger Nation prays for each of you to heal quickly and completely! Go Tigers!