By Chase Robinson

The Luverne High School Tigers lost 65-0 to the New Brockton Gamecocks at home in Glen Daniel Stadium Friday night.

Luverne won the coin toss but deferred to New Brockton. In New Brockton’s first offensive series, they gained one first down and marched into Luverne territory but turned the ball over on downs at the Luverne 40-yard line.

On Luverne’s first play from scrimmage Tyrus Jones managed Luverne’s longest run of the night, a 45-yard run to the New Brockton 15-yard line.

Luverne’s next play from scrimmage turned out to be the story of the night.

The Tigers fumbled and New Brockton recovered the ball and began a 10-play, 81-yard touchdown drive.

New Brockton’s Clay Kelley scored this first touchdown of the night.

In the first half, New Brockton scored three touchdowns, and the Gamecocks’ Wyatt Moore returned an interception 40 yards for a touchdown giving the Gamecocks a 27-0 halftime lead.

The second half saw more of the same. New Brockton’s Jahari Brown ran 65 yards for a touchdown to start the third quarter. The Tigers had a fumble returned for a touchdown. New Brockton’s Austin Tyler pulled of an interception returning the ball 50 yards inside the Luverne 10-yard line, setting up another touchdown for the Gamecocks.

New Brockton’s offense also proved too powerful for the Tiger defense in the second half, as the offense scored five touchdowns in the second half.

The Gamecocks dominated both sides of the ball.

New Brockton rushed for 392 yards. The Gamecocks’ Dalton Adkison was 8-for-9 for 108 yards with no interceptions. The Gamecocks had no turnovers.

“Pretty pathetic tonight,” said Luverne head coach Scott Rials. “We did a poor job coaching. I did.”

Luverne had 93 yards rushing. Luverne quarterbacks Austin Bryant and Dionte Brantley went 3-for-12 passing for 27 yards with two interceptions, one returned for a touchdown. Luverne had a total of four first downs.

“We’ve got to find some guts,” Rials said. “You can give them plays. You can give them ways to line up, but you’ve got to have some guts to play this game.

“We just quit the second half. I’m embarrassed to be the coach because I did a poor job.”

The Tigers left the game with a 6-4 record overall and their steepest loss of the season so far. The Gamecocks’ record is now 8-1.