The Mansfield Tigers and Mena Bearcats have similar resumes. Both have been considered mid-card programs that could win or lose against anyone at any time. The Tigers and Bearcats have always been hard-hitting smashmouth programs. The programs have pride that seems unmatched by others; their size and fanbases are not to be trifled with. They have seen the bottom of the barrel but both have won a State Title (Mansfield 2025, Mena 1976). In recent years, Mansfield and Mena have been scrimmage opponents, but on September the 4th 2026, these two ultimate underdog stories clashed in an epic non-conference showdown that will live in the minds of those in attendance forever.
Mansfield started the game by kicking off to send Mena’s gritty offense onto the field first. The Bearcats definitely had the size factor on their side, but Mansfield’s defense was not impressed by the Bearcats’ beef as Jubal Parks, Cameron Jones, and Hayden Miles quickly forced Mena to punt the ball away. Mansfield’s offense took over at the 29-yard line and had all intentions of eating up some yards and clock, but a fumble on the third play of the drive sent those plans down the drain and gave Mena’s offense great field position. Four plays later, Mena was in the end zone, and the Tigers were down 7-0.
The ensuing kickoff pinned Mansfield back deep again forcing the Tigers to drive the length of the field to play catch-up with the bigger Bearcats. A drive, you say? Well, jump in because sophomore running back Colton Moore brought a Mack Truck to the game. Moore plowed through Mena defenders for 21-yards in just two plays which put the Bearcats’ defense on its heels. Two plays later, Moore busted free again to gain 20-yards to set Mansfield in perfect scoring territory at the 19-yard line. All of Mena’s attention was then given to Moore which allowed Silas Burton to hit the outside for a….fumble! Luckily, Isaac Carson had his head on a swivel and scooped the ball up to go in for a Tiger touchdown. The Tigers’ two-point conversion was no good, but the 7-6 score made it clear that this game was going to be a barn burner.
Mena would not be outdone, not by a 3A Mansfield team. The Bearcats’ offense mixed speed and power to leave Mansfield’s head spinning by going 72-yards in just three plays to get into the end zone again. Three plays and a score aren’t bad, but Mansfield’s offense said “hold my Gatorade and watch this” as on their second offensive play, Jubal Parks pitched the ball to Jeramiah Burton who screamed 64-yards downfield for a Tiger touchdown. Parks tacked on the two-point conversion to tie the game up at 14-14 with 2:03 left in the first quarter. That left time for Mena’s offense to retake the lead, but Jubal Parks and Isaac Carson helped the Tigers’ defense stand strong by stuffing the Bearcats in the backfield to end the opening quarter with the Tigers and Bearcats all tied up, 14-14.
The second quarter started with Mena having to punt on fourth down which pinned the Tigers with their backs at the three-yard line. It took Mansfield seven plays to dig 40-yards out of the hole, but the Tigers put the ball on the ground again which allowed Mena to pick up the loose ball and dig an even deeper hole for the Tigers with a defensive touchdown. The extra point kick gave Mena a 21-14 lead with 7:42 remaining in the second quarter. Good teams feed off of mistakes, but great teams overcome them. On the Tigers’ ensuing offensive possession, Mansfield overcame their fumble with style as Silas Burton capped off a six-play drive with a 39-yard Tiger touchdown. Colton Moore steamrolled his way across the goal line for a two-point conversion to give Mansfield a 22-21 lead with 4:46 left in the half. Even with all of the fumbles, penalties, and other mistakes each offense had made up to that point, neither team’s defense could make a stop. Mena scored again on the ensuing drive to take the lead again, but with 0:34 left in the half, Colton Moore scored from 12-yards out to hand Mansfield the lead back. Silas Burton added the two bonus points which sent Mansfield into halftime with a 30-28 lead over the Bearcats.
Being down to a team in a smaller classification isn’t anything a team like Mena expects, let alone finds itself in the position of. So, the Bearcats went straight for the Tigers’ momentum by pulling a “huddle kick” to open the second half. Mena huddled up before the kickoff but never broke the huddle to send all eleven players to the same spot on an onside kick. The trick kick worked too as Mena recovered the ball and took over on offense at their own 46-yard line. Mansfield did lose the ball on that kick, but the Tigers’ defense didn’t lose an ounce of momentum. Defenders Mason Bryant, Isaac Carson, Silas Burton, and Cameron Jones held the Bearcats to minimum yards for six plays before Mena coughed up the ball, allowing Hayden Miles to make the recovery for the Tigers.
Now it was time for a particular question that Tiger fans have asked all preseason to be answered. Can this extremely young Tiger squad close out a game? Well, if Mansfield’s eleven play drive that ate up 6:12 off the clock and was capped off by a Jubal Parks to Jeramiah Burton pass for a Tiger touchdown doesn’t answer that question, nothing can. Parks added on the two-point conversion giving Mansfield a two-possession lead of 38-28 with 1:46 left in the third quarter. The Tigers were looking like they never missed a beat as they closed the third quarter with not only a 38-28 lead, but an opportunity to beat the Mena Bearcats for the first time in decades in regular season play.
While questions were being answered for the Tigers, no one questioned if Mena would just lay down. Rightfully so too. The Bearcats opened the fourth quarter finishing their offensive drive with points as the Bearcats made their way into the end zone again in just six plays to close the gap to 38-35 with 11:01 left in the game. With only a three-point lead, Mansfield had to do what Mansfield does best, eat. The Tigers needed to eat yards and clock and there’s no better recipe for that than using “Moore Burton” in their stew for success. Colton Moore, Silas Burton, and Jerimiah Burton followed that recipe to a T which gave Isaac Carson the chance to spice things up with a 32-yard end around for a Tiger touchdown. But a bitter flag brought the score back. Nothing could stop the Tigers, though as four plays later, Colton Moore punched in the legit Tiger touchdown. The extra two-point conversion was good giving Mansfield a solid lead with 4:10 left in the fourth and final quarter. Mansfield stripped the ball from Mena on the ensuing kickoff, and it was goodnight Bearcats from there. A 24-yard rumblin’ stumblin’ bumblin’ Colton Moore touchdown sealed the deal as the Mansfield Tigers defeated the Mena Bearcats with a 52-35 final score.
The victory was one for the ages as a Mansfield win against Mena isn’t something the past few generations of Tigers have ever seen. While Mansfield’s youth and exuberance led to mistakes during the game, they had an experienced veteran’s wherewithal to not panic and quit. Offensive linemen Mason Bryant, Timmy Norton, Easton Foley, Michael Carter, Clayton Garrison, and Hayden Miles earned major props as the Tigers had multiple running backs cross the 100-yard mark against Mena. The victory was big but will be short-lived as Mansfield continues their tumultuous non-conference schedule next Friday. Mansfield will travel across state lines to take on the 2025 Oklahoma State Champion Talihina Golden Tigers. Talihina is no joke, but Mansfield has erased the term “Red Tigers” from their mascot’s name by proving they are the only Tigers and on Friday, September 11th, Mansfield will look to keep that title the same.
