The Luverne Tigers finally got out of their self-destruction mode last Friday night to down the Choctaw County Tigers 27 to 0. The Tigers overcame 5 fumbles and one pass interception in winning their second area game.

Luverne won the opening toss and deferred their choice until the second half started. Choctaw started out on their own 24 after the opening kick off, and on the second play from scrimmage fumbled the ball away to Luverne. Seth Wood was “Johnny on the spot” covering the ball for the Tigers. Luverne wasted no time in finding the end zone as Lance Brooks found pay dirt on their 4th play, a well-executed play over right end. The PAT was missed, but with 9:20 left in the first quarter, the Tigers had a 6-point lead. Choctaw could not muster any offense on their next possession and punted the ball away to Luverne. The Tigers took over on the Choctaw 22 yard line after the punt and return. Evan Richardson returned the punt for the Tigers. From here, the Tigers used only one play to get into the end zone as quarterback Monterio May hit a covered Seth Wood, who made a beautiful catch and run to get Luverne another TD. Justin Ray plowed in over right guard on the PAT try to give the Tigers a 14-point lead. This ended the scoring in the first quarter. The Tiger defense held all night to keep the Choctaw County Tigers out of the end zone and kept the home 11 backed up all night. The only other score of the first half for Luverne came with 6 seconds left on the clock. It came at the end of a one play, 44-yard drive as May hit Matthew Sipper, who made a spectacular catch and run to get the third Tiger TD of the night. The PAT was missed, but the Tigers had a 20 to 0 lead at the half.

Neither team could muster any offense in the third quarter as both defenses controlled the line of scrimmage. The final Tiger score came with 9 minutes left in the game. It came at the end of a 6 play, 37-yard drive. The TD came on an eleven yard run by Micah Wallace, who broke over right tackle and dashed into the end zone for the touchdown. Robert Freeman hit the PAT, and with 9 minutes left in the game the Tigers had their margin of victory.

The Tiger line on both sides of the ball controlled the tempo of the game for most of the night; they are anchored by Michael Norman, Robert Freeman, Lonnie Freeman, A. J. Hall, Cody Smith, Haden Wilkes, Paul Lessley, Issac Sanders, Hayden Shelton, Robert Roys, Channing Sewell, William Killough, Desmond Harrell, Mike Lovejoy, Trent Parham and Dranarius Lovejoy.

Justin Ray led the Tigers on offense with 60 yards on the ground. He was followed by Chad Free with 40 yards, Micah Wallace with 38 yards, and Lance Brooks with 35 yards. QB Monterio May was 9 of 11 for 147 yards and two touchdowns.

On defense, the Tigers were led by Justin Ray with 8 tackles, followed by Lenny Brooks with 5 tackles and one fumble recovery.

The Luverne Tigers host Calhoun High Friday night at Glenn Daniel Stadium.

Kick off is set for 7 p.m.