On Thursday, October 3 the Mansfield Jr High Tigers hosted the Greenland Pirates in a showdown of heavyweights. The Tigers were riding high into the game after holding a 2-0 conference record. Unfortunately, Greenland was firing with all cannons Thursday as Mansfield fell 38-8 to the Pirates.
Greenland showed their concern about the capabilities of Mansfield by starting off the game with an onside kick in an attempt to swing momentum their way right off the bat. The Tigers recovered the onside and went right to work with Tyler Woolbright, Caleb Collier, and Tyler Turnipseed taking turns on big runs downfield to get Mansfield inside the 5-yard line. Mansfield wasn’t quite able to punch it in and turned the ball over to the Pirates. On Greenlands first possession, Mansfields defense flooded the Pirates offensive ship pummeling the Pirates ball carrier for a safety to put the Tigers up 2-0.
The Tigers played a game of hot potato with Greenland for most of the first quarter as neither team was willing to back down. The Pirates loaded up their cannons with 0:53 seconds left in the first quarter to score and take an 8-2 lead. Mansfield Quarterback, Fisher Willsey, darted with the ball 27 yards midway through the second quarter to get the Tigers on their feet, but Greenland answered with two big runs for touchdowns closing the half with a 24-2 lead.
Mansfield came out of the half defensively on fire as Tyler Turnipseed intercepted a Pirates pass and took it for a 19-yard return setting up the Tigers in Greenland territory. Unfortunately, Mansfield was picked off the very next play as the Pirates took the ball back for a pick 6 putting them up 30-2.
Mansfield wasn’t about to lay down though. Fisher Willsey delivered a 30-yard sniper shot pass to Drew Elmore who pounded his way into the endzone. Greenland then took the ensuing kickoff back for a touchdown to answer the Tigers score setting up the final score of 38-8. The Mansfield Jr High Tigers may have lost, but it wasn’t without a fight. Mansfield’s determination and potential is unmatched win or lose. The tough loss put the Tigers at a 2-1 conference record as they prepare to take on the perennial powerhouse, the Charleston Tigers, on Thursday, October 10th at home.
