Tigers trample Panthers to remain perfect in region, 59-7
The game was not nearly as close as the score, and the score wasn’t close. The Demopolis Tigers scored 27 points in the first quarter against the Jemison Panthers and another 19 in the second quarter en route to a 59-7 victory. The Tigers also put together another balanced attack that chewed up 700 yards of total offense, while giving up only 19 total yards to the Panthers. If not for a 43-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, the Tigers would have held the Panthers to negative yardage.
After winning the coin toss and electing to receive, the Tigers wasted little time as Matthew Witherspoon scored on a 5-yard run with 10:55 remaining the first quarter. Joseph Gantt’s PAT put the Tigers on top, 7-0.
In an unexpected move, the Tigers recovered an onside kick on the ensuing kickoff. Drew Seymore hit Craig Nichols with a short pass that Nichols took into the end zone at the 8:01 mark of the first quarter. The PAT failed, leaving the Tigers up 13-0.
The Tigers’ third score of the first quarter came after a Panther punt, with Kelvin Rowser busting loose for a 55-yard touchdown run at the 4:25 mark of the second quarter. Gantt’s PAT increased the Tiger lead to 20-0.
The Tigers forced the Panthers to punt on their ensuing possession and the ball rolled dead at the Tiger 23-yard line with 1:49 remaining in the first quarter. After an illegal motion penalty backed the ball up to the 18-yard line, Seymore hit Camron Wright for an 82-yard touchdown pass. Gantt’s PAT gave the Tigers a 27-0 lead with 52.5 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
The Tigers’ fifth possession of the night came after another forced punt. KJ Rowser notched his second touchdown of the night on a 42-yard run with 10:14 to go in the second quarter. The PAT failed but the Tigers increased their lead to 33-0 over the Panthers.
On their ensuing possession, the Panthers punted but the punt was fumbled by the Tiger returner. Kevin McElroy then picked off a fourth down attempt pass, giving the Tigers possession. The Tigers’ sixth touchdown came on a Seymore to Kenon Rowser 33-yard catch and run. Gantt’s PAT stretched the Tiger lead to 40-0 with 6:49 to go in the first half.
Keeping with pattern of the night, the Tiger defense forced another Panther punt on their next possession. Seymore hit a wide open Vincent Deas for a 49-yard touchdown pass at the 4:25 mark of the second quarter. The failed PAT left the Tigers with a 46-0 lead.
The Panthers made their only visit to the end zone at the 4:10 mark of the second quarter on a 43-yard Matthew Brasher touchdown run. Juancarlos Sanchez tacked on the PAT for what would be the final scoring of the first half, with the Tigers leading the Panthers, 46-7.
The Tiger defense opened the second half by stopping the Panthers and forcing a punt. However, the Tigers’ drive ended when the Panthers recovered a Tiger fumble at their own 9-yard line. However, Wright stepped up and picked off a Panther pass and returned it to the Panther 4-yard line. Nichols added his second touchdown of the night on the following 4-yard run at the 6:02 mark of the third quarter. Gantt’s PAT gave the Tigers a 53-7 lead.
The final points of the night came after the Panthers punted on their ensuing possession. Nichols tallied his third touchdown of the night on a 39-yard run with 1:35 remaining in the third quarter. The PAT failed, resulting in the final score of 59-7, in favor of the Tigers.
The Tigers put together another very balanced game on offense, with 356 yards coming on the ground. The Tigers totaled nine touchdowns, with five of those coming through the air. Nichols had two rushing touchdowns on 13 carries and totaled 165 yards. Nichols also added two catches for six yards and one touchdown. Kelvin Rowser had one touchdown and 92 yards rushing on six carries and also added one receiving touchdown on two catches for 55 yards. Witherspoon had one carry for five yards and it was a touchdown. Keishawn Rowser added 63 yards on seven carries. Wright and Kenon Rowser each had one carry for 12 yards. And James Mason had four carries for seven yards.
Seymore completed 15 passes for 335 yards and five touchdowns. Jose Tellez completed one pass for nine yards. Wright led all receivers with 158 yards on six catches, one of those for a touchdown. Deas totaled one catch for 49 yards, which was a touchdown. Kenon Rowser had one touchdown on two catches and totaled 33 yards. Harrison Carroll catch two passes for 13 yards and Ja’Marion Bennett caught one pass for nine yards.
The Tigers (4-3, 4-0) will finally be at home as they host region foe Marbury for homecoming on Friday, Oct. 15 at Tiger Stadium.