Although it’s not technically a rivalry, anytime the Mansfield Tigers and Greenland Pirates play football at any level, you can go ahead and break out the popcorn because it’s going to be a showstopper game. This was no different on Thursday night as the 7th Grade Tigers traveled to the green water of Pirate territory. Greenland had the home field and size advantage over the Tigers, but pure will power drove Mansfield to an edge of the sword 20-14 victory.
In case there is someone out there in Tiger Land who didn’t know, Mansfield’s 7th Grade has a running back stable that would make Sr High teams in the area jealous and that stable ran wild Thursday night. Dawson Robinson, Zander Walters, and Cooper Edwards all took turns running on the Tigers offenses opening possession. Each back ate up substantial yards every snap until Robinson took a quick pitch to the outside and saw nothing but the open field as he darted 22-yards for the first score of the game. Ethan Martin charged past the goal line for the two-point conversion giving Mansfield an early 8-0 lead. Greenland quickly answered back, but the Tiger defense stood tall stopping the Pirates extra point conversion to maintain their lead at 8-6 with 3:33 left in the first half. Walters rumbled, stumbled, twisted, and turned his way through the Pirates defense for a 70-yard touchdown, but unfortunately, the score was called back due to a penalty. Mansfield then stuffed the ball down Greenland’s defenses throat driving downfield with Robinson punching it in from four yards out to put the Tigers up 14-6 at halftime.
It didn’t take long after the half for Mansfield to get right back on the board again as Walters plowed through the Pirates for 55-yards and a touchdown. Mansfield couldn’t convert the two-point leaving the score at 20-6 with 2:45 left in the second half. The Pirates would not sink easily though. Midway through the last half of the game, Greenland’s massive offensive line held back the Tigers smothering defense allowing a perfectly precise pass play giving Greenland a touchdown. After earning the two-point conversion, the game was cut to a six point 20-14 lead for Mansfield. The Tigers had another Walters touchdown called back on a penalty, but it was the defense who secured the victory as they forced a fumble late in the second half allowing the Tigers to sail away with a 20-14 win over Greenland.
Although it was the run game of Robinson and Walters that kept the Pirates defense busy, it was the Tigers defense that was impressive against a much larger Greenland offense. James Bausley, Wyatt Boyd, Jacob Elmore, Chris Dickinson, and Jacob Delp slayed the monstrous Krakens forcing the Pirates to use the outside of the field for most of the game. But once Greenland hit the perimeter, they ran right into the claws of Cooper Edwards, Kanon Fisher, Cadien Ore, Dominic Shores, and Logan Newman who laid the smackdown on the ball carriers. Turning running backs into the teeth of the Tiger defense was Joey Fildes and Traevin Martin. And linebackers (aka headhunters) Alex Hecox, Dawson Robinson, and Zander Walters mopped up any stragglers who dared make it past the Tigers D-Line or D-Backs with punishing hits.
With victories over West Fork and Greenland, the 7th Grade Tigers completed the Northwest Arkansas Sweep and now sit at 2-0 in conference play. Mansfield will put those wins behind them though and go right back to work as they face what could be their biggest test of the season when they travel away from home to play the conference powerhouse Charleston Tigers on October 8. Mansfield will work on stopping penalties, shoring up their tackles, and staying on blocks because this will be a BIG catfight. Playing Charleston is never a walk in the park, but this group of 7th Graders will walk through the valley of the shadow death and fear no Black and Gold Tigers.
