Kicking game instrumental in Tigers’ 33-28 loss to Vikings

The Demopolis Tigers traveled to Jasper to take on the Vikings on Friday night and the kicking game proved to be an instrumental part of the outcome of the game. The Tigers had two punts blocked, with one being returned for a touchdown and the Vikings took the lead on a 39 yard field goal en route to handing the Tigers their third loss of the season. After taking a 28-27 lead at the end of the third quarter, the Tigers yielded two field goals for the 33-28 final.

The Vikings won the toss, elected to receive and wasted little time getting on the board first. Jasper’s Spencer Rosenfield crossed the goal line at the 9:01 mark of the first quarter for the first score of the night. The successful PAT gave the Vikings a 7-0 lead over the Tigers.

The Tigers looked to tie the game on their first possession after Kelvin Rowser crossed the goal line on a 73-yard run. However, an illegal block penalty nullified the touchdown. The Tigers were unable to overcome the penalty and eventually turned the ball over on downs at the Viking 25-yard line.

The Tiger defense stopped the Vikings on a fourth down conversion attempt, leading to 14-yard touchdown run by Craig Nichols at the 1:07 mark of the first quarter. Joseph Gantt’s PAT tied the game at 7-7.

The Vikings wasted little time retaking the lead when Rosenfield scored again, this time on a 57-yard run. The PAT gave the Vikings a 14-7 lead with 24 seconds to go in the first quarter.

Nichols picked up his second touchdown run for the Tigers on a 13-yard run at the 6:56 mark of the second quarter. Gantt’s PAT tied the game at 14-14.

The Vikings picked off a Tiger pass with 1:49 to go in the second quarter. Facing a fourth down with under 30 seconds to go in the half, the Vikings used a little trickery when Viking receiver took a toss on a reverse, then found Rosenfield for a 23-yard touchdown pass. The PAT stretched the Viking lead to 21-14 with 22 seconds remaining in the half.

The Tigers took the opening second half kick and used less than three minutes to tie the game for the third time. Drew Seymore hit Kenon Rowser with a short pass and Rowser did the rest and crossed the goal line with 9:36 to go in the third quarter. Gantt tacked on the PAT and tied the game at 21-21.

After holding the Vikings on their ensuing possession, the Tigers faced a fourth down of their own. The Vikings were able to block the Tigers’ punt and return it 17 yards for a touchdown. The Vikings missed the PAT, but held a 27-21 lead over the Tigers.

The Tigers took the lead as the clock expired in the third quarter, when Matthew Witherspoon took a direct snap and scampered 31 yards into the end zone on a 4th-and-1 conversion attempt. Gantt’s PAT gave the Tigers a 28-27 lead at the end of the third quarter.

The Vikings moved down the field and, when the drive stalled, Preston Reed connected on a 39-yard field goal to give Jasper the lead at 30-28 with 9:42 to go in the fourth quarter.

The ensuing Tiger drive ended with another blocked punt which turned the ball over to the Vikings at the Tigers’ 37-yard line. With 4:10 remaining in the game, Reed tacked on a 38-yard field goal for the Vikings, resulting in a 33-28 lead over the Tigers.

On their ensuing possession, the Tigers drove all the way to the Viking 3-yard line. However, the Vikings forced a Tiger fumble inside the 1-yard line, which they recovered at the 2-yard line. The Vikings were able to pick up a first down and then run the clock out to take the final 33-28 win over the Tigers.

The Tigers tallied 461 yards of total offense on the night, with 261 yards coming on the ground. The Vikings totaled 368 yards of offense on the night.

Seymore connected on 12 passes for 200 yards with on touchdown. Kenon Rowser caught four passes for 42 yards, including one touchdown. Harrison Carroll totaled 85 yards on three catches. Kelvin Rowser caught two passes for 56 yards. Vincent Deas had two catches for 16 yards. Montgomery Freeman had one catch for one yard.

Nichols led the Tigers collected two touchdowns on 27 carries and totaled 196 yards. Kelvin Rowser had seven carries for 33 yards. Witherspoon had one touchdown on two carries and totaled 32 yards.

The Tigers (3-3, 3-0) will have an open week next week and finish their four road game stretch at Jemison on Oct. 8, when they take on the region rival Panthers.