Despite forcing two late-game turnovers and building an early 14-0 lead, the Greenville Tigers’ season came to a close thanks to a 35-yard field goal as the Beauregard Hornets avenged their Week 1 loss with a 23-20 win.

Greenville head football coach Josh McLendon said that the story of the night was missed opportunities, despite the Tigers remaining in control for much of the ballgame.

“We had an interception returned for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter that got called back because of a holding penalty—that was really big,” McLendon said.

“And we had two turnovers at the very end of the game that put us in great field position to score, but we just couldn’t get it done.”

Instead, with a minute and some change remaining in the game, the Hornets drove down the field and snatched victory from the Tigers with a field goal as time expired.

“The kids played extremely hard,” McLendon continued.  “I thought we deserved to win—but sometimes you give everything you’ve got and you come up short.

“But I’m very proud of my guys.  They played extremely hard—there were some plays that our guys made that were just incredible.  I hate it for our seniors, and I felt like we had a chance to make a run in the playoffs.  We didn’t get it done offensively to be able to capitalize on their mistakes and the field goal position we had.  It’s just a tough way to end the season.”

Despite how the Tigers met their end, McLendon said that he couldn’t be happier to coach the outgoing group of seniors leaving this year’s team.

“I’ve had an incredible senior class,” he said. “They’ve done everything that we’ve asked them to do.  And what I’m more proud of than anything is that they have good character.

“They’re a good group of young men that I enjoyed coaching, and at the end of the day that’s all you can ask for.  Hopefully, we’ll get some of these guys playing some college football in the next year.”