The Tigers opened the 2025 campaign on the road in a dominant 60-6 win over the Hull-Daisetta Bobcats.
On Friday, the Trinity extends its upward trajectory; coming off their best season in several years at 4-5, the more seasoned Tigers were anxious to prove they were ready to compete for a playoff spot in 2025.
The Tigers won the toss and elected to start on defense, and with the exception of a face mask penalty, the defense shut down the Bobcat offense and ended the drive with an interception by Chance Barron. The offense started sluggish with three straight incompletions and punted the ball back to the Bobcats. The Bobcat offense was able to move the ball and gain a first down, but an interception by Cord’e Walker ended the drive. The Tiger Offense took just three plays to move the ball 80 yards and score off a 15-yard pass from Terian Maxie to Cove Copley to give the Tigers a 6-0 lead.
The second quarter started with the Tigers on their way to the end zone again with a 15-yard touchdown run by Maxie and a 2-point conversion giving the Tigers a 14-0 lead. The Tiger defense was put to the test after two fumbles deep inside their own end of the field; the defense was able to hold on the first drive but gave up a score with 1:07 left in the half. Maxie was able to find Walker for 2 passes of 29-yards and with just 3 seconds left, the Tigers were able to score and take a 22-6 lead into the locker room at halftime.
The Tigers received the opening kickoff to start the 3rd quarter and took 2 plays and 37 seconds for Maxie to find Walker for a 35-yard touchdown. Leading 30-6, the Tigers kicked the ball, and a fumble on the return set the Tigers up for another quick score, a 21-yard pass from Maxie to Ayden Debose and a 38-6 lead. Again, the Bobcats fumbled the return and the Tigers recovered, but the Tigers fumbled the ball and returned the ball to the Bobcats, the next play, the Tigers forced another fumble, setting up the offense for another score with a 32-yard run from Debose.
Leading 46-6 after scoring 24 points in the first 4 minutes of the 3rd quarter, the Tiger defense stopped the Bobcats and after the punt, Debose broke away for a 49-yard touchdown run and a 53-6 lead headed into the final quarter of the game.
Both coaches agreed to allow the clock to run continuously throughout the 4th quarter. The final scoring play of the evening came off another 51-yard run from Debose, and after adding the extra point the Tigers walked away with a 60-6 victory to start the season.
After the game Coach Shaun Stout addressed the team and expressed how proud he was of the performance and the hard work the team put in during the off season and 6 a.m. practices daily.
The Tigers will have their first home game of the year as the Rivalry of Highway 94 is renewed as the 1-0 Groveton Indians make the short trip to Tiger Stadium. Not only will one team leave 2-0, but they will also claim bragging rights for the year. Scheduled kickoff is 7 p.m.
The Eagles took flight on Friday with a 36-0 blanking of Fruitvale.
On offense, Kayden Roden completed 23 of 44 passes for 279 yards and four TDs with only 1 Interception.
On the ground, Bradyn Kaufman carried the ball 8 times for 163 yards and 2 TDs, and Blaize McSwain carried 4 times for 32 yards.
Peyton Williams pulled in 12 passes for 104 yards; Bradyn Kaufman caught one for 7 yards; Rance Howell caught 2 for 53 yards and 2 TDs; Joseph Ocasiones caught 6 for 87 yards and 2 TDs; and Ethan LeBlanc pulled in 2 passes for 28 yards.
On defense, Peyton Williams had 5 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, and 1 interception; Bradyn Kaufman had 10 tackles, 2tackles for loss, and 1 caused fumble; Rance Howell had 10 tackles and 3 tackles for loss; Joseph Ocasiones had 9 tackles, 1 fumble recovery, 1 caused fumble, and 3 interception; Blaize McSwain had 8 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, and 2 fumble recoveries; Ethan LeBlanc had 5 tackles and 2 tackles for loss; and Tripp Turner, Liam Gregory, Kameron Lee and Kayden Roden had 1 tackle each.
The Indians opened their new season with a decisive 34-19 win over Alto, stopping a losing streak that began in 2023, since the last recorded win for Groveton was against West Hardin on Nov. 3, 2023.
