The Luverne Tigers traveled to Mobile last week to play Bayside Academy and came away with a big win, 31-28. The Tigers used a “bend but don’t break” defense and a potent ground game to notch up another region game. The Tigers got off to a quick start as Chad Free rambled 56 yards on their second play from scrimmage for a Tiger touchdown. The run was set up by potent blocks from the Tiger offensive line. The line is anchored by senior tackle Haden Wilkes and junior Paul Lessley. The guards are Robert Freeman and senior A. J. Hall; the center is Michael Jay Norman, who is a member of the junior class. The tight end is Bakari Burnette a junior. Wide outs are Matthew Sipper, a senior, and Evan Richardson a junior. All night long these unsung heroes controlled the Bayside defensive line to give the Tiger backs room to run. After Free’s TD run, Adam Foster came on to kick the PAT and give the Tigers a 7 point lead. Bayside tied the game with 6:52 left in the first quarter at 7 all after a short drive.

The Tigers again got on the scoreboard in the first quarter as Free slid into the end zone behind a tremendous block from center Mike Norman. Foster again split the uprights and with less that 4 minutes left in the first quarter, the Tigers had regained the lead. The Tigers scored late in the second quarter with 11 seconds left to take a 20 to 7 half time lead. The td came on a 37 yard pass from Monterio May to Ryan McGhee, who made circus style catch for the td. The pat was missed but the tigers had increased the lead to 14 points.

The tigers got on the board first in the second half, with 9; 48 left in the 3rd, as Micah Wallace rambled 30 yards in a broken field for the tiger td. Chad Free ran the pat over to give the tigers a 28 to 7 lead. Then the home team came to life as they scored two quick fourth quarter td to cut the tiger lead to 28 to 21. Then the tiger offence got back on track as they moved in for another score. When the Bayside defense stiffened Coach Sanders called on Adam Foster for a field goal attempt, it was up and it was good and the tigers extended their lead to 31 to 21. Bayside a late td to cut the margin to 3 and the tigers were proud to get out of Mobile with a win.

The tigers were lead on defense by A. J. Hall who recorded 11 tackles next was Desmond Harrell with 6. Robert Freeman and Micah Wallace had 5 each. Ryan McGhee, Justin Ray, Lonnie Freeman, Darren Foster and Lenny Brooks each had a fumble recovery to stop a key drive or to set the tigers up for a score. The tiger offense was lead by Chad free with 148 yard on 29 carries; Justin Ray had 107 yards on 6 caries. Wallace added 41 yards on 3 totes. Monterio May was 3 of 4 passing for 57 key yards. The tiger defense held Bayside to 134 yards on the ground and 151 thru the air.

Luverne Bayside

First downs– 10 12

Penalties-yards– 8-70 2-25

Fumbles/lost– 2/0 5/5

Punts/ average– 2/ 44 0/0

The Tigers host Straughn this Friday night for homecoming, kick off is 7pm at Glen Daniel Stadium.