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Tigers ground Falcons, 28-0

Michael Clements , , , , , , , , , ,

The Demopolis Tigers picked up a key region win on their second Saturday game of the 2019 season. In the first quarter, Jim Lawler notched a pick-six that would prove to be the game winner and the Tigers added three more touchdowns in the second half. The visiting Falcons were held out of the end zone by the Tiger defense and the Tigers got the 28-0 win.

10-12-2019 — Demopolis, Ala. — Demopolis’ Craig Nichols breaks into the open against Central-Tuscaloosa.

Following two possessions that ended in failed fourth-down attempts, the Tigers’ Lawler picked off a Falcon pass in the flats and raced 23 yards to the end zone for the Tigers’ first touchdown. Cole Wilson’s PAT gave the Tigers the 7-0 lead with 1:43 to go in the first quarter.

Neither team could change the lights on the scoreboard in the second quarter and the half ended with the Tigers holding the 7-0 lead.

10-12-2019 — Demopolis, Ala. — Demopolis’ Detron Essex breaks into the open for a 68-yard touchdown run against the Central-Tuscaloosa Falcons.

The Tigers received the opening second half kick and Detron Essex wasted little time adding to the Tiger lead. On the first play from scrimmage, Essex took the hand-off from Peyton Stevenson and raced 68 yards to the end zone. Wilson’s PAT gave the Tigers a 14-0 lead with 11:35 to go in the third quarter.

Stevenson made his mark on the scoreboard when he scampered in from nine yards out with 8:33 to go in the third quarter. Wilson’s PAT stretched the Tiger lead to 21-0.

10-12-2019 — Demopolis, Ala. — Demopolis’ Peyton Stevenson crosses the goal line with a little help from Dalton Rowser (50) against the Central-Tuscaloosa Falcons.

On the first play of the fourth quarter, Stevenson hit Shatarius Williams who completed the play when he crossed the end zone with 11:47 to go in the game. Wilson tacked on the PAT and the Tigers had their final margin of victory at 28-0.

Offensively, the Tigers out-gained the Falcons 298-67 in total yards, with 220 of those coming on the ground. Craig Nichols didn’t get into the end zone, but he did have 125 yards on 24 carries. Essex added 81 yards on four carries, including one TD run. Stevenson added 19 yards on 6 carries and one TD. Lamarion Kelly added 12 yards on four carries. Eric Norwood, Jr. added three yards on a carry while Kyjuan Rhone and Drew Seymore picked up two yards on one carry each. Stevenson was 3 for 9 for 79 yards and a touchdown. Williams caught two passes for 77 yards and one touchdown.

The Tiger defense was led by Gray Sharpe, who had five tackles and five assists. C.J. Williams added four tackles and one assist. Matthew Witherspoon, Lawler and Essex totaled four tackles each. Lawler had one interception. Avake Jones, K.D. Daniels and Brody Osburn had two tackles each. Ryan Bumgarner, Donald Means, Jr., Curtis Peagler and Kelvin Rowser tallied one tackle each for the Tigers.

10-12-2019 — Demopolis, Ala. — Several Demopolis Tiger defenders combine to bring down a Central-Tuscaloosa Falcon ball carrier.

“I was happy – a lot better effort in the second half, offensively. Our defense played good from start to finish,” head coach Brian Seymore said after the game. Regarding the change in execution after the half, Seymore remarked “It’s nothing more than execution – being physical, hitting our marks and finishing drives. We didn’t really change anything.”

“It’s bittersweet because we got a region win and that’s important, but you’ve got families out there hurting with lost loved ones due to the tragic situation. Our prayers go out to those families, the community and the band members,” Seymore said, regarding the accidental drowning of two River City Blue band members the previous afternoon.

The Tigers (5-2, 3-1) will travel to Jemison next week for another important region matchup.