Luverne used a crushing ground game and a rock solid defense to drop Pike County from the ranks of the undefeated and out of the play offs with a 13-7 win last Friday night.

This is the second year in a row that the tigers, led by Coach Les Sanders, have defeated the bulldogs in the first round. Coming in to the game the dogs were 9 and 0 and they were region champs. But the tiger defense held the dogs to 136 yards of total offense, 125 on the ground and 11 through the airways. The tiger offense massed 284 total yards, 43 via the airways, and 241 on the ground. The tiger’s defense held the dogs to only 1 first down and a minus 7 yards rushing in the second half.

The tigers scored first on a 2 yard run by Ryan McGhee; the score was set up by an Adam Foster interception and return of 31 yards down to the dog 2 yard line. The pat was kicked by Robert Freeman. The bulldogs tied the game on the first play of the second quarter as Marquavous Knox scored on a 37 yard run.

The tigers received the second half kick and returned it out to their 24 yard line, and from there they started a well managed 9 play drive that covered 76 yards, and it all came on the ground.

Lance Brooks started the drive with a 30 yard run. From there it was all downhill as the tiger line made gaping holes in the dogs’ defensive line for the tiger back to travel through. The TD came on a Monterio May run of 1 yard; the pat was missed. With 20 minutes left in the game the tigers turned it over to the defense which dominated the dogs the rest of the way.

The tigers on defense were led by Walter Barber who recorded 11 tackles; Lenny Brooks had 4, while Lonnie Freeman had 5. Adam Foster recorded 2 solo stops and returned an interception down to the Brundidge 2 yard line to set up the first tiger TD of the night. Nick McManigle recorded one stop but it was for a sack and an 8 yard loss.

On offense, the tigers were led by Ryan McGhee who had 147 yards in 19 carries and two catches for 16 yards. Lance Brooks had 60 yards on 14 carries. Monterio May was 4 of 5 passing for 43 yards. Evan Richardson had two catches for 27 yards.

This week the tigers travel to Brewton for a rematch with T.R. Miller.

Kick off is 7 p.m.