GROVETON — With the Tigers coming off a last-minute loss to open the season and the Indians coming off last minute win, both teams knew they would be in for a full 48-minute battle to decide who had bragging rights for the 2026 season.
The Tigers took the short trip to Groveton Friday night and came back 41-21 winners.
The Indians received the opening kickoff, but the Tiger defense forced a quick 3-and-out, and that was followed by the Indian punt being blocked and recovered by Kayden Knight, giving the Tigers great field position at the Indian 4-yard line.
After a holding penalty to start the drive, Ayden DeBose took the handoff 14 yards into the end-zone, and the extra point kick by Alex Sanchez gave the Tigers a 7-0 lead with 10:12 remaining in the opening quarter. Brayden Reynolds returned the Tiger kick 34 yards to set up the Indians second drive on the Indian 43-yard line. The offense was able to move the ball to the Tiger 34, when Terian Maxie stepped in front of a pass and returned the interception to the Indian 45-yard line.
The Tigers took just one play to extend their lead with a 45-yard pass from Maxie to Cord’e Walker. With the extra point the Tigers took a 14-0 lead. Reynolds returned the ball 26 yards and with the assistance of a Tiger penalty, the Indians started on the Tiger 48-yard line, facing a 4th-and- 7, Jasper Due found Jace Taylor open for a 45-yard completion for the touchdown. Reynolds added the extra point and brought the score to 14-7. With the Tigers driving the ball, Jay Smith intercepted a pass that ended the Tigers potential scoring drive.
The second quarter started with an Indian punt into the endzone, setting up at the 20-yard line, the Tigers took 5 plays to extend their lead, highlighted by a Maxie 60-yard run and 1-yard scoring run. Adding the extra point gave the Tigers a 21-7 lead early in the second quarter. Defense, penalties and turnovers dominated the remainder of the second quarter, and the Tigers led the Indians 21-7 at halftime.
The Tigers took the opening kickoff of the 3rd quarter and put together a 6-minute scoring drive capped off by a 7-yard touchdown run by Ronnie Barnett; with just over 18-minutes left in the game, the Tigers held a comfortable 21-point lead. With :37 seconds left in the 3rd quarter, Due found Ruger McLain open and with a 70-yard completion and run, the Indians tightened the score 28-13 heading into the last quarter.
With just under 6 minutes left in the game, Maxie made a 15-yard touchdown run and extended the lead to 34-13. On the second play of the Indians drive, Walker stepped in front of a pass and took the interception to the Indian 16-yard line, and after adding penalty yards, the Tigers started at the 8-yard line.
Trinity needed one run from DuDose to find the endzone and with the extra point the Tigers led 41-13. The Indians took over for one final drive at the 25-yard line and put together a 75-yard scoring drive, highlighted by a 4th-down pass to Taylor for 24 yards and setting up the Indians at the Tiger 2-yard line.
With :26 seconds left in the game, Reynolds was able to find the end-zone and adding the 2-point try, the Indians narrowed the final margin to 41-21.
Throughout the game, as you might expect in a rivalry game, each team received more than their fair share of unsportsmanlike conduct penalties and some ejections from the game. The Indian-Tiger game has always been one that is circled on the calendar early in the season, although the teams are not in the same district as before, the intensity has never subsided, and the friendships between the players usually returns to normal by the following Saturday morning.
Groveton Head Coach Scott Green said that falling behind early is something you can’t do against a good team.
“We couldn’t get our running game established, ended up getting a punt blocked,” he said. “We dug ourselves a hole early, but our guys never quit. “Still, everyone has an assignment, and that assignment has to be executed to be successful. We will keep grinding and getting ready for the next one.”
The Indians will be on the road Friday as they travel to San Augustine for a 7:30 kickoff, while the Tigers will celebrate Homecoming against Tarkington. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. and Homecoming King and Queen Crowning will begin at 6:15.
Eagles come up short against Jackets
By Becki Byrd
WOODVILLE — The Apple Springs Eagles took on the Chester Yellowjackets in Woodville on Friday, with a venue change made necessary due to rain. It was originally scheduled for Chester.
The Jackets were not there long as they beat the Eagles 68-18, by halftime due to the 45-point mercy rule.
The Eagles will be on the road again this week, heading to Milford. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
