Tigers unable to fend off Washington

WASHINGTON C.H. — If there is one thing anyone can say about the 2024 McClain Tigers, it is they don’t stop battling. Though the Tigers lost their Week 9 game Friday night to the host Washington Blue Lions by a 43-19 score at Gardner Park, the young Tigers fought hard for the entire game. 

The Frontier Athletic Conference loss saw MHS fall to 0-4 in conference play and 1-8 overall, while Washington improved to 3-1 in the FAC and 3-6 overall after starting the season at 0-5. 

Washington's first touchdown of the game came with 1:29 left in the first quarter as Drew Young went on a 9-yard run to the end zone for six points. A pass from QB Gavin Coffman to Matt Colefish for a 2-point conversion put the Blue Lions ahead 8-0.

On the ensuing drive by McClain, the Tigers threw a pick-six as Washington's Aden Osborne raced around 50 yards to pay dirt for a touchdown on the interception with 1:09 left in the first quarter. The 2-point attempt failed on an incomplete pass, leaving Washington ahead 14-0.

After the Tigers were forced to punt on a three-and-out, four plays later the Blue Lions held a 20-0 lead when a Coffman pass to Colefish went for a 25-yard touchdown as there was 10:04 left in the second quarter. The 2-point attempt failed, leaving Washington in front by 20 points. 

Washington's lead jumped to 27 points with a 12-play drive that concluded with the Blue Lions scoring a 1-yard touchdown with 2:25 left in the second quarter off a run by Isaac Hood. Coffman's PAT was good for a 27-0 Blue Lions lead.

McClain kept battling and were rewarded by scoring a touchdown with 45.0 remaining before halftime. 

MHS began the scoring drive with a 15-yard completion off a pass from Hudson Lovett to Riley Cummins, but it was called back with a flag.

The Tigers regrouped and had a 29-yard completion from Lovett to Cam Medley, then another 29-yard catch by Cummins, added with a roughing the passer penalty put MHS on Washington's 21-yard line. 

Next came a sack by the Blue Lions, only to see the Tigers have a 10-yard catch by Hayden Cornell. Two plays later, McClain was in the end zone with a 16-yard touchdown catch by Zane Adams with 45 seconds left in the second quarter. The PAT was no good, and once halftime arrived, it was the Blue Lions leading the Tigers, 27-6.

McClain scored their second touchdown of the game on the first drive of the third quarter, starting with a second down conversion off a pass from Lovett to Jordan Bell for a gain of 30 yards. 

The next play was a first-and-10 play from the Washington 26-yard line, and McClain’s Lovett found Connor McCune for a 26-yard touchdown reception with 11:35 left in the third, as McCune made an excellent catch in the corner of the end zone for six points. The PAT was no good, leaving the Tigers trailing by 15 points at 27-12. 

Washington added to their lead with 6:43 left in the third as Coffman found Jakob Hoosier for a 51-yard touchdown reception on first-and-15 for six points. The Coffman PAT was good for a 34-12 Blue Lion lead. 

The Blue Lions built a 40-12 lead after a drive of one play after an 85-yard run to pay dirt, untouched, by Young left the Blue Lions ahead by 28 points with 10:48 left in the fourth quarter. 

Washington’s Coffman later kicked a 27-yard field goal with just under 3:00 left in regulation for a 43-12 advantage. 

McClain scored the final touchdown of the game as Lovett raced to the end zone for 12 yards with 25.0 left on the scoreboard at Gardner Park. The PAT was good for a final score of 43-19. 

McClain (0-4, 1-8) next week in the 10th and final game of the ‘24 season will be on the road for the annual Rotary Bowl game as the Tigers — the reigning winner of the rivalry game — will face the Hillsboro Indians (1-3, 3-6) at Richards Memorial Field with a kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m. HHS lost to the Jackson Ironmen (4-0, 7-2) Friday night in Week 9 by a 49-0 score at JHS. 

GAME NOTES: Dalton Rowland of MHS had a tackle for loss of 10 yards on a first-quarter screen pass … Washington’s Miguel Utrera had a sack in the first quarter … Jordan Bell (MHS) had a fumble recovery … Washington’s Utrera and Brayden Fiebelkorn combined for a sack … McClain’s Cohen Six and Brady Benninger combined for a TFL … Jhett Watson of MHS broke up a pass in the second quarter … Fiebelkorn had a second-quarter sack … McClain’s Rowland had a 28-yard reception in the third quarter … Hayden Cornell of MHS had an interception with 46 seconds left in the third quarter … Washington’s Hood had an interception with 10:00 left in the fourth quarter.

BOX SCORE
MHS    00 06 06 07 — 19
WHS    14 13 07 09 — 43

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