The Luverne Tigers using their patented “bend but don’t break” style of defense maintained their perfect record in the season as they defeated the Alabama Christian Eagles 47 to 23 at home last Friday night. The Eagles received the opening kickoff and wasted no time in testing the Tiger D as they used only 5 plays to go 83 yard for their first touchdown of the night.

The Tigers managed to make three first downs on their first possession before they fumbled the ball away. But the Tiger defense held the Eagles and got the ball back for the Cats, who wasted no time with this possession in finding the Eagle end zone. The score came on a 43 yard run by Lance Brooks. It ended a 3 play, 56 yard drive. The PAT was added by Ryan Waters and with 5:28 left in the first quarter, the cats had tied the game at 7 all. The second Tiger TD of the first quarter came on an electrifying 47 yard punt return by Ryan McGhee. He took in the Jordan Creel punt at the Tiger 47 yard line and zigged and zagged his way to the end zone breaking several tackles on the way. Again Waters added the PAT for a 14 to 7 Tiger advantage.

The next eagle score came on a 32 yard field goal by Jordan Nicholson with 9:15 left in the second quarter. On the ensuing kickoff, Brandon McGhee raced 77 yards for the third score of the night. The PAT failed but the Tigers had increased their lead 20-9. The next time the Cagles got the ball, the Tigers scored again. Ryan McGhee again unleashed his magic as he picked off a Brooks Williams’ aerial and raced 83 yards through a broken field breaking several hits from would-be tacklers and pounded his way into the end zone for a 4th Tiger TD. Again the try for the extra point failed. The Eagles scored again with just 3 minutes left in the first cutting Luverne’s lead 26-16.

The Tigers took the second half kick and marched 71 yards for their first score of the third quarter. The TD came on a 35 yard run by Ryan McGhee; the PAT was added by Robert Freeman and with 7:30 left in the third quarter, the Tigers led 33 to 16. Neither team scored in the remaining time of the third stanza, but both lit up the scoreboard in the 4th. The Tigers scored first on a 19 yard run by Monterio May and Robert Freeman again added the PAT. The last Eagle TD came shortly thereafter as Brooks Williams passed 31 yards to Grant McKissack; the PAT was added by Jordan Nickolson. The last score came at the end of a 73 yard drive by the Tigers as Ryan McGhee slammed into the Eagle end zone from 5 yards out with 4 minutes left in the game. Freeman again split the uprights for the Tigers 5th win of the season, 47 to 23.

Luverne’s offense pounded out 295 yards on the ground and 46 using the air mail system. Ryan McGhee pounded out 132 yards in 7 carries. Lance Brooks had 85 yards in 12 carries. Seth Wood picked up only 29 yards in 8 carries, but his contribution is in placing line backers in the prone position for running backs to step on or over. Evan Richardson was the leading receiver with 2 catches for 21 yards.

LHS was led on defense by Lenny Brooks with 13 tackles and one sack; Ryan Waters had 9 tackles. Brandon McGhee and Seth Wood had 6 stops each, while Lonnie Freeman had 7.

This week the Tigers host Cottage Hill in the Homecoming tilt. The kick off is set for 7 p.m. Friday night.