Tigers convincing in 35-16 win in opener

TREY McCANTS PUTS A POWERFUL STOP ON A SCREAMING DEVIL The Tiger Defense held Warren County to just 114 yards of total offense in Friday's season opener. The Washington-Wilkes Tigers started the 2006 football season off right with a 35-16 win over the Screaming Devils from Warren County.

After a three-and-out by the WW offense, the Tiger defense set the tone for the game by causing and recovering a fumble on Warren County's first play from scrimmage. This gave the Tigers the ball on Warren County's 37-yard line. After an incomplete pass and a nine yard gain by fullback Germell Moore, running back Kelmetrius Wylie broke two tackles for a 28yard run and the first Tiger touchdown of the season. Kicker Mark Tench made the PAT to put the Tigers up 7-0 with 8:41 left in the first quarter.

After the kickoff, an exchange of several punts followed and a 12yard run by Wylie was the largest gain for either team. The first quarter ended with the Tigers on their own 31-yard line, about to punt for the second time since the Wylie touchdown.

For the first play of the second quarter, quarterback/punter Clete Wilson launched a 37-yard punt to the Warren 32-yard line where it was fumbled by the Warren County returner and recovered by Demont Gresham on the 34. Wylie received the toss and dazzled everyone by dancing and dodging for 34 yards and another Tiger touchdown. Tench was good again for the PAT, giving the Tigers a 14-point lead with 11:42 left in the half. The rest of the second quarter was dominated by the defenses, with neither team gaining more than 15 yards before punting. The Tigers ended the half

JAY SMALL MAKES THE CATCH FOR A TOUCHDOWN Earlier in the game he had another touchdown reception. with a 10-yard sack on Warren County quarterback Seals, heading into the locker room with a 14-0 lead.

The beginning of the third quarter showed the only hope for Warren County all night. After forcing the Devils to punt, the Tigers took possession on their own 17-yard line. On the Tiger's first play of the quarter, fullback Moore lost control of the football. Warren recovered and took it 17 yards for a touchdown. The Devils used a trick formation to make the 2-point conversion, cutting the Tiger lead to six.

KELMETRIUS WYLIE WAS THE TIGERS' LEADING RUSHER He had 145 yards on 18 carries against Warren County. The Tigers fumbled the kickoff, giving Warren County the ball on the Washington-Wilkes 37-yard line. The Tiger defense held, causing the Devils to punt. After two carries for a total of twenty yards, Gresham lost the Tigers' third fumble of the quarter at the Tiger 43-yard line. Again the Tiger defense refused to budge, sacking Seals for a four-yard loss on fourth down.

The game was never again in contention. The Tiger offense took advantage of the swing in momentum, driving down to the Warren County five-yard line on the legs of running backs Wylie and Jay Small before the quarter ended.

W-W started the fourth quarter with a five yard touchdown pass from Wilson to Small. Tench's PAT was good again, putting the Tigers up 21-8 with 11:54 left in the game. After a Warren County punt, Wilson hooked up with Small again, this time for 42 yards and another touchdown. Tench split the uprights, giving the Tigers a 20-point lead but the Tigers weren't done yet.

Warren County fumbled to the Tigers on the first play after the kickoff, giving the Tigers the ball on the Warren County 32-yard line. Ten plays later, Gresham punched in from the one yard line for the fifth and final Washington-Wilkes touchdown of the game. Mark Tench finished the night with his fifth straight PAT, putting the Tigers up 35-8 with 5:10 left to play.

Warren County mounted one last drive, most of which came on a 36yard pass from Seals to wide receiver Burley. The Devils scored and made the 2-point conversion with 3:30 left, making the score 3516. This would prove to be the final score, as the Tigers received the kick and proceeded to run out the clock, finishing off their first victory of the season.

The Tigers amassed 271 yards of offense, 224 rushing and 47 passing. Wylie led the Tigers on the ground, with 18 attempts for 145 yards and two touchdowns. Small, Moore, and Gresham all had over 20 yards rushing as well, with Gresham having the Tigers' third rushing touchdown.

Small was the sole receiver of the game, catching two passes for 47 yards and two touchdowns.

The Tiger defense held Warren County to 114 yards of offense and forced two turnovers. Gresham led the team with 11 tackles, four assists, four tackles for a loss, two sacks, and a recovered fumble. Deronn Walton was next with six tackles, four assists, three tackles for a loss, and a sack. Gary Wilburn had two fumble recoveries. The Tiger special teams caused another turnover on the night, and kicker Mark Tench was a perfect five-forfive on PATs.

Next week the Tigers play at home against the Thomson Bulldogs. Thomson defeated the Salem Seminoles last week by a score of 26-3. Offensively, Thomson is primarily

a running team, using the Wing-T formation with lots of misdirection plays. Their leading rushers are the fullback and the quarterback. Defensively, the Bulldogs use a 5-2 look. Thomson has outstanding team speed, and will dress 85-90 players.

The Bulldogs will be looking to avenge last year' shutout defeat at the Brickyard, and Thomson Head Coach Luther Welsh will be going for career win number 300. The game will be a strong, non-region test for the Tigers. Kickoff is at 7:30 at Tiger Stadium.