Mohawks fall to Tigers at home

Jarred McKinnie (39), Tanner Murray (84) and Taylor Wood (99) drop the Caruthersville ball carrier inches from the Tiger's goal line in second half action Friday night. Also pictured are Mohawks Luke Yount (22), Connor Rodery (63) and Daniel Chandler (70). (Times photo/Tim Blair) [Click to enlarge]

Team speed was the difference in the ballgame Friday night, as the Piggott Mohawks dropped their home opener to the Caruthersville Tigers at Parker Field. Although the Tribe had more total offense on the night, the speedy Tigers took advantage of several big plays to notch the 34-14 non-conference win.

On the bright side, the Mohawks got another big game from junior running back Alek Samples, Tanner Murray had a couple of big catches and there were several impressive plays by the defense unit led by seniors Taylor Wood and Cord Pike. But the look on the face of Coach Dave Hendrix following the contest told it all, too many mistakes and too many big plays by the Tigers.

A large crowd was on hand for the contest, as the Tribe began the home portion of this year's schedule. The Mohawks won the coin toss, but chose to defer to the second half and the Tigers would get the first shot at scoring. Samples kicked-off short to the Tigers, something the Mohawks did all night in an effort to keep the ball out of the hands of their speedy return men.

Caruthersville then put together a drive that would end with a 37 yard touchdown pass to Peter Lloyd with 8:09 to play in the first half. Big Jeffery Massengale kicked the PAT and the Tigers took the early lead.

The following Mohawk drive saw several good runs, as the committee of Piggott running backs all saw time in the backfield. But that drive sputtered and ended as the Tribe turned the ball over on downs. That set up a drive by the Tigers that ended when Conner Rodery pressured the quarterback, and Samples picked off his pass attempt.

As the second quarter began the Mohawks were putting together a drive that would take them inside the Tiger's five yard line. Following a holding call against the Tribe, and a couple of running plays, quarterback Jon Perkins hit Murray for a touchdown to put the Mohawks on the board. Perkins than added the PAT and with 9:38 to go in the first half the score stood tied at 7-7.

But on the first play of the ensuing Tiger drive Vohland Fonda broke off a 38 yard touchdown run to once again take the lead. On the PAT attempt several Mohawks, led by Pike, Murray, Wood and Daniel Chandler burst through the line and blocked the kick. With 9:02 to go in the first half the score stood 13-7 in favor of the Tigers.

On the next Mohawk drive the turnover bug once again bit the Tribe, as they fumbled the ball back to the Tigers at their own 28. But that drive resulted in an interception by Piggott sophomore Spencer Coomer, as he got the ball back with his second pick of the year. That came with just over two minutes to play till the halftime break.

Although the Mohawks were able to move the ball some, the two teams swapped possession of the football twice as the half wound down. But the Tigers would score again, as Phil Lancaster caught a pass for a touchdown from 10 yards out and Massengale added the PAT to make it 20-7 at the half.

Samples returned the Tiger kickoff out to the 34 to begin the third quarter, and there Perkins began to put together an impressive Mohawk drive. That series included several good runs by Samples, Zach Redmon and Zac Trammell and ended as Samples took it in from three yards out, Perkins added the PAT and the Mohawks trailed 20-14.

But the explosive Tigers would put two more touchdowns up on the board in the second half, one on a long run by Fonda through and around Piggott defenders and the other on a 45 yard touchdown pass and catch by Lloyd. Fonda added one two-point conversion and Massengale nailed the other PAT.

Late in the ballgame the Mohawks did mount another good looking drive, which included a clutch fourth down run by Samples. But that ended with around two minutes to play when Trammell fumbled the ball deep in Tiger territory. Caruthersville then tried to mount a final drive, but that ended as Coomer picked off his second pass of the night with 1:33 to play in regulation. As time expired the Tigers notched the 34-14 win.

Actually, on the game the Mohawks had more total offense than Caruthersville, producing 322 total yards to 272 for the visitors. Junior quarterback Jon Perkins also had a productive night, hitting four of seven pass attempts for 78 yards and one touchdown.

Leading rushers for the Tribe were Samples with 28 carries for 149 yards, Trammell had 40 yards on 10 carries, Corbin Chase had 13 carries for 36 yards and Luke Yount had six carries for 22 yards from the fullback position.

With the loss the Mohawks fall to 0-2 on the season, and remain 0-0 in conference play. Friday night at 7:30 the Clarendon Lions will visit Parker Field for the final non-conference game of the season. Last year the Tribe won at Clarendon in the game that was shortened to three quarters due to an injury to a Lion player. Last week Clarendon beat the Barton Bears by a score of 34-29.