By Jim Majors

 

A strong start by the Luverne Tigers wasn’t enough to defeat the Sweet Water Bulldogs Friday night.

To start the contest, both teams traded possessions.

Luverne had first possession of the ball, but turned the ball over on downs.

Sweet Water couldn’t move the ball and had to punt.

Luverne’s Preston Sankey returned the ball 56 yards for the TD and the Tigers missed the extra point the score at 6-0 with 6:21 left in the first quarter.

The Bulldogs had to punt the ball away, and the Tigers were able to drive the ball down the field.

Luverne’s Quez Watkins ran the ball in for the touchdown.

With 1:56 left in the  first quarter, the score was 12-0 in favor of the home team.

Sweet Water’s Jakoby Aldridge scored for the Bulldogs to make the next score and the PAT was good, making the score 12-7 with 8:32 left in the second quarter.

Both Luverne and Sweet Water stalled out on their next possessions.

The Tigers blocked the Bulldogs’ punt for great field position on Sweet Water’s 15 yard line.

From three yards out Kevontae May of Luverne made the TD to make the score 18-7 with 2:46 left in the first half of play. Aldridge returned the ball 73 yards for the TD and good PAT score is 18-14 with 2:25 left in the second quarter. A Tate Gibbs pass to Weatherly for a two-point conversion, the Bulldogs only trailed 18-15.

Luverne had to punt and Sweet Water’s Aldridge returned the ball 71 yards for the go ahead TD 18-22 as the first half came to an end.

Sweet Water received the ball to start the second half of the third round of playoffs. They continued to move the ball and ran it in for the touchdown with 6:00 left in the third score was 18-28.

The Tigers fumbled the ball and the Bulldogs fumbled it back.

Both teams turned it over on downs before Womack connected with Marcel McMillian for a 47-yard pass to close the gap 24-28. With 6:10 left in the game, Sweet Water scored another TD for a 24-34 lead and the win.

Coach Mike DuBose said he felt he did not prepare his team good enough, and  “tonight we lost to a better prepared team and that is my fault” although he was proud of his team and the season they had was good.

The Tigers finish the season 11-2.