While the McKenzie Tigers led most of the game they were unable to slam the door dropping a 7-6 decision to region foe Goshen.

On a night when the Tigers celebrated the renaming of their stadium to Williams-Vickery Field the Tigers came out in a fired-up state.

The Tiger defense kept Goshen off balance the entire game holding them to only 123 total yards.

However, the Tigers were only able to manage 160 of their own with 96 of that coming on Jerome Ball's 13 carries.

Neither team could get anything going in the opening quarter as they constantly traded possessions.

The Tigers would draw first blood on an impressive 85-yard drive ending with a Sattrick Rudolph touchdown pass to Matthew Bush. The Tigers chose to go for the two-point conversion which failed leaving them with a dangerous 6-0 lead.

The Tigers held the lead for the rest of the half and late in the third before a crucial mistake gave the Eagles the window they would need.

With McKenzie's back against the wall the Eagles brought pressure from the corners forcing Rudolph, the Tiger quarterback, to lose the football. The Eagles recovered giving them a first and goal situation from the Tiger 6-yard line.

First and goal would be all the Eagles needed as Derrick Foster, who led the Eagles with 48 yards on 15 carries, would squeeze into the endzone on the very next play to tie the game. Davin Pelton then hit what would prove to be the game winning extra point to make the score 7-6.

McKenzie made their way into Eagle territory late in the game and took two fourth quarter turnovers to keep hope alive. But the Eagles came up with a big play on each possession to end the threat and gain their first win of the season.

Goshen Coach Tim Brown said he was very pleased with the way his team fought back in the game.

"They really did a great job of coming back," said Brown. "We got off to a slow start in the first half and made some adjustments in the second quarter."

Brown said his defense rose to the occasion when they were needed.

"Our defense really played a great ballgame," said Brown. "They basically took control of the ballgame."

With the loss McKenzie dropped to 1-2 on the year and 0-2 in the region. Though the Tigers were not able to pull out the win Tiger head Coach David Kirkland was proud of his crew. Kirkland said he is seeing improvement each week it is just a matter of putting it all together.

"We scrapped all night long and we fought tooth and nail," said Kirkland. "We fought hard the whole game and we played a great, physical football game and I am proud of them."

Kirkland said he and the Tiger team would continue to work hard to put all the pieces together.

"We're going to be back to work on Monday and we're going to surprise some folks," said Kirkland. "I just really proud of our guys."

McKenzie will get a chance to get back on the winning side with a trip to Zion Chapel next week.

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.