The Mansfield Tigers have been labeled “overrated” for most of the season going into their games against solid conference opponents. After back-to-back losses to Booneville and Charleston, the Tigers were questionable or even considered underdogs by many against conference contenders Lavaca and Hackett. But being labeled as overrated isn’t always a bad thing, especially going into the State Playoffs. Mansfield entered the State Playoffs as a 3Seed which landed them a matchup with the 3A-4s 3Seeded Centerpoint Knights. The Round1 matchup statistically looked to be dead even between the two 3Seeded teams, but it was Mansfield who showed again that they cannot be taken lightly as the Tigers knocked out Centerpoint with a convincing 57-22 final score.
The Tigers started their home playoff game on offense and drove the ball downfield in nine plays to their own 22-yard line setting Mansfield up with an early opportunity to score. Centerpoint’s defense had other plans though as the Knights stiffened up and stuffed the Tigers on fourth down to force a turnover on downs. Mansfield’s defense wasn’t going to let their offense go without an early score though as the Tigers rallied to make the Knights punt the ball right back in merely three plays. The Tigers went with a little razzle-dazzle on their next offensive possession as Tyler Turnipseed took a quick pitch from quarterback Jeremy Strozier for an end-around sweep or was it? Turnipseed fooled Centerpoint’s defense as he reared back and threw the ball to a wide-open Peyton Martin for a 36-yard completion. Just five plays later the Tigers crossed into the end zone with a Jeremy Strozier quarterback keeper. The Tigers missed the extra point kick but still had the early lead over the Knights with a 6-0 score. Mansfield’s defense again did what they do best and forced a Centerpoint turnover on downs. With the ball back in the Tigers’ hands, Mansfield jumped on the Knights with a 34-yard run by Daniel Burton to set up a one-yard Tiger touchdown by Andrew Burton. Mansfield couldn’t punch in the two-point conversion which set the score at 12-0 in the Tigers favor to end the first quarter of play.
Centerpoint started the second quarter with the ball, but the Knights were quickly knocked off their horse. A completed pass by the Knights was caught by the Knights wide receiver who then bobbled and attempted to push the ball out of bounds. Unfortunately for Centerpoint, the ball didn’t make it out of the field of play and Jeremy Strozier snatched the ball up and ran untouched for a 49-yard scoop and score. The Tigers failed to convert on a two-point try but their lead was still bumped to 18-0. Strozier wasn’t done yet though as the Tigers quarterback would tack on another touchdown, this time on offense, as he read the Knights defense just right to take the ball for a 30-yard touchdown. Mansfield’s special teams woes continued though as another extra point kick was missed setting the score at 24-0. Centerpoint decided to change up their game plan and gave Mansfield a little taste of their own medicine. The Knights switched to a ground-and-pound rushing attack for ten plays which ate up yards and the clock. Then the Knights switched it up and mixed in a pass which caught the Tigers off-guard as the Knights wide receiver pulled in a 4-yard Centerpoint touchdown catch. Centerpoint was successful on their two-point attempt which closed the gap down to a 24-8 score. The Tigers offense stumbled on their next possession which forced them to punt the ball, but disaster struck as the snap went high allowing Centerpoint to take over on downs at their own four-yard line. The Knights capitalized four plays later with a rushing touchdown. Mansfield would score one more time on a 33-yard pass before halftime, but Centerpoint was definitely stealing some momentum along the way as both teams headed to the locker room with the Tigers leading 30-14.
Although the score didn’t look like the game was tight, Mansfield fans definitely had some concern on their faces as the second half began. Centerpoint started off the second half with the ball, but Mansfield’s defense shut them down making the Knights send out their punt team. Just as soon as the ball left Centerpoint’s kicker’s foot, Dakota “Wild Man” Deer was right there to block the kick. Even after blocking the kick, Deer was able to recover the ball himself which put the Tigers at 26-yard line. It only took one play after the turnover for Mansfield to score as Tyler Turnipseed screamed downfield for a 26-yard Tiger touchdown. The Tigers were finally successful on their extra-point attempt and extended their lead to 37-14 early in the third quarter. The Knights weren’t out of the fight though as their offense went 66 yards on 12 plays to score on Mansfield which quieted the stands. The Tigers welcomed Centerpoint’s fighting spirit and on their next possession rode on the back of senior Tyler Turnipseed who took the ball on five consecutive plays to gain 54 yards before punching the ball through for another Tiger touchdown. Mansfield was on a roll as their defense took the field again and senior Peyton Martin aimed to make sure it stayed that way too. On the Knights third play of the drive, Centerpoint threw a rocket pass down the middle of the field, but right when the receiver caught the ball, Martin swooped in to snatch it out of the Knights’ hands for a Tiger turnover. The interception was huge for the Tigers as they went into the fourth quarter with a commanding 43-22 lead on Centerpoint. The fourth quarter was all Mansfield as they continued to punish Centerpoint by scoring on a two-yard run with Tyler Turnipseed and following that up with a 35-yard run by Daniel Burton to cruise into the second round of the State Playoffs with a 57-22 final score.
The Tigers ran away with the game by gaining 356 of their 432 total yards on the ground behind Tyler Turnipseed (159yrds), Daniel Burton (121yrds), Andrew Burton (36yrds), and Jeremy Strozier (46yrds). Strozier and Turnipseed also combined for 76 yards in passing on just three attempts. Mansfield’s defense has been the highlight of the season by being second overall in the state in points allowed, but the Tiger’s ability to score has relatively flown under the radar for the most part. Not anymore though. Through offense, defense, and special teams, the Tigers made history Friday night by setting a new school record in overall points scored in a season. The previous highest score for a season was 399 points. After the Tigers 57-22 victory Friday, the 2023 Mansfield Tigers shattered the old record with a staggering 442 points in a single season. Oh, and there are still points to be scored too as the Tigers advance in the Playoff bracket and will travel four hours northeast to Hoxie on Friday, November 17th for Round2 of the State Playoffs. Hoxie is definitely no pushover team. Their overall size and talent have led the Mustangs to an impressive 11-0 record this season and a 1Seeded ranking in the State Playoffs. Hoxie is the only team to have a better points allowed record than the Tigers as they sit on top of the 3A by only allowing 117 points in 11 games. Their offense is just as dangerous as the Mustangs have racked up 416 points on the year up to this point. Mansfield at Hoxie could wind up being a game-of-the-year candidate on paper, but the goal for both teams has nothing to do with what the stat books say. For these two programs, it’s all about what the scoreboard says at the end of four quarters.
