Published: September 21, 2007 10:26 am         

Tigers pull out 25-15 win over Bethany Friday

By Kevin Rogers

Special to the Tuttle Times

"They're really good We had to find a way to win," said Sterling Koons following the win last Friday night at Bethany.

Koons performance was stellar late in the game. Everyone expects Sterling's arm will be successful but it was his feet that picked up crucial first downs in the final drive that led to the win.

"It doesn't happen too often but it feels good when I do get to run," said Koons.

"They were really fast on their defensive line and the linebackers flowed real well," said offensive tackle Ethan Reedy. "They're a tough team."

Reedy is one of several} linemen who are responsible for the 161 yards rushing by opening the holes for the running backs in the final drive.

"We've got rules for every play and we just have to stick to those rules and that takes care of it," said Reedy.

Head coach Philip Koons credited the win to the play of the defense saying, "We played great defense tonight. We gave up a little because they are a great team but it was the defense kept us in there."

The defense led by Kyle Ebert held the Bronchos to only 132-yards on the ground and 1 53-yards through the air.

"It was tough to handle, everything went so fist with that spread offense and no huddle," said Ebert. "He's good, he didn't take a sack and he got out of the pocket good and found his receivers," Ebert said of Bethany quarterback, J.P. Grasmick. '"But,, overall we stepped up and played good against a really good offense."

David Oberfield put the Tigers on the board early in the first quarter with an interception returned for a touchdown. The PAT was missed and d the Tigers held an early 6-0 lead.

That lead was short lived when the Bronchos, Jess Jenkinson found a wall of blockers and caught the Tiger linebackers flowing the wrong way and ran 41 yards to even things up. The Bronchos hit the PAT and took the lead 7-0.

Hunter Thompson's 44-yard field goal lifted the tigers to a 9-7 lead in the second quarter. Later in the same quarter Sterling Koons found Kyle Ebert for an 80-yard touchdown pass that put the score at 15-7 and that's where things were at the half.

The Bronchos would not give up and came out strong in third quarter. The Bronchos countered with a third quarter 81-yard touchdown pass and two point conversion that tied things at 15 all.

Both teams stepped up defensively and wouldn't allow any more points through the remainder of the third quarter and most of the fourth quarter The Bronchos would dig in and stop the Tigers on fourth and short to stop a potential scoring drive.

Finally with less than five minutes to play, the Tigers mounted a drive from deep in their own territory.. bryce Moore and Sterling Koons pounded the ball ahead picking up crucial yardage and first downs to move the ball across the 50-yardline.

With :50 seconds remaining Kyle Ebert pulled in a Sterling Koons pass and ambled his way to the Bronchos 15-yardline.. The Tigers continued to pound away and with :26 seconds on the clock Coach Koons called a time out.

Koons was calm and contemplative in the huddle. He asked kicker Hunter Thompson which hash mark he preferred to kick from. With his head down and a stern demeanor, Koons went silent for a few seconds as if he were in prayer. He calmly looked up, called the play and sent his team back out on the field.

From 6-yards out, Bryce Moore would get one more chance to move the ball closer to the goal line, but this time, Moore would not be denied. Reedy, Coker,, Mounce, Stacey and Steverson went back to work m the trench and opened a seam in the Bronchos defensive front.

Moore darted into the pile and reached out the other side with both hands on the ball and set the ball down inside the end zone for the score. Moore finished the night with 119-yards on the night and one score.

Kyle Ebert ended any hopes for the Bronchos to mount a last second effort by picking off a Grasmick pass as the clock ran down. The Tigers came out on top with the score of 22-15 and improving their record to 3-0 heading into next weeks conference match with Sante Fe South.