DEON JACKSON POWERS PAST A DEFENDER The Tigers will finally return home this Friday night. Last Friday the Washington- Wilkes Tigers traveled to Irwinton to take on the Wilkinson County Warriors in the last away game of the regular season. The Warriors came out on top in the game by score of 44-7. The Tigers received the ball to start off the game for the first time this year.

The opening kickoff of the game was kicked into the end zone for touchback. The Washington offense took over on its 20-yard line after the kick. On the third play of the game, and the third straight run by Eric Scott, the Tigers gained their first first down of the game. Three plays later Washington-Wilkes was forced to punt the ball.

Wilkinson County took over on the W-W 49-yard line after offering no return on the punt. On their first play of the game from scrimmage, the Warriors gained a first down on a 12-yard run. On second down, Tyrece Ashmore recovered Wilkinson County fumble, giving Washington the ball on their 49-yard line.

On the next possession, Tiger running back Scott ran the ball eight consecutive times for a total of two first downs. On third down, Teverrius Jones completed a ten yard pass to Drew Wilson down to the 14-yard line. Three plays after the pass, Scott ran the ball in for Washington's first score of the game. John Gowen knocked through the extra-point to give the Tigers a lead of 7-0.

The Warriors took over on their 41-yard line after a short kick and a three-yard return. The Washington defense held Wilkinson on third down, but was called for a facemask, giving the Warriors a second chance for a first down which they capitalized on, running 13-yards for a new set of downs. Three plays later, the Tigers were called for pass interference giving Wilkinson another first down. On the next play, Wilkinson County gained yet another first down, this one on a 15-yard run. The Warriors scored three plays later on a 12-yard run. The point-afterattempt was good tying the game at 7-7.

The Washington-Wilkes offense started its next drive on their 21-yard line after a 10-yard return by Deon Jackson. Scott fumbled the ball to Wilkinson on the third play of the drive. On their first play, the Warriors broke loose on a 21-yard run for a touchdown. The extra-point was missed however leaving the score 13-7 in favor of Wilkinson.

On first down of the next drive, Scott ran the ball 14 yards for a first down. Two short runs and an incomplete pass later, Washington had to punt from its 48-yard line. The Warriors went three-and-out and had to punt the ball back to the Tigers. On first down, quarterback Jones threw an interception that was run back 40-yards for another Wilkinson touchdown. The two-point conversion was good, advancing the Warrior lead to 21-7. Washington took over on their 41-yard line after 28-yard return by Jackson. An incomplete pass and a three-yard run later, the first half was over.

Washington-Wilkes kicked the ball off to start the second half. The Wilkinson County offense started their first drive of the second half from their 47-yard line. On second down the Warriors gained a first down on a short gain, and then another first down two plays later on a 36-yard run. Two short runs later Wilkinson scored their fourth touchdown of the game, but again missed the extra point making the score 27-7.

The Tigers started their first possession of the half from their 49-yard line after a 29-yard return. On third down, Scott ran the ball 17 yards to give Washington a first down, and then ran the ball nine yards two plays later for another first down. A personal foul on the run by Scott stopped the Tiger momentum, forcing them to turn the ball over on downs four plays later. The Warriors broke free a 58-yard run on first down for another touchdown. The go-for-two was again good, giving Wilkinson County a lead of 35-7.

Wilkinson recovered a fumble on the resulting kick on the Washington 23-yard line. Two penalties and a few short gains later, the Warriors had to punt the ball from the W-W 43-yard line. On the Tigers second play of their drive, quarterback Jones was called for intentional grounding in the end zone, giving Wilkinson two points for a safety.

After the safety, Washington- Wilkes punted the ball 55-yards to the 25-yard line from where the Warriors lost eight yards on the return. Three plays into the drive, the Wilkinson offense gained a first down off a 24-yard run. Two plays later, the Warriors broke a long run down to the Washington two-yard line from where they punched the ball into the end zone on the next play. The extra-point was made making the score 44-7 in favor of Wilkinson County.

The Tigers started their last possession of the game from their 28-yard line. On first down, Jones completed a 25-yard pass to Jackson for a first down, then another long pass on the next play, this one to Lavorius Jones for a 34-yard gain. Washington turned the ball over on downs four plays later after a short run and three incomplete passes. The Wilkinson Warriors took a knee to end the game on their own 12-yard line. The game ended with Wilkinson County winning by a score of 44-7.

The Washington-Wilkes defense was led by senior Justin Guin who had six tackles and three assists. The offense was led by sophomore Eric Scott who rushed for 92 yards and one touchdown on 23 carries.

This week the Tigers will host the Warren County Screaming Devils. Warren County is coming off back-to-back shutout wins over Hancock and Aquinas. Offensively they base out of a Wing-T and base defensively out of a 3-5. This will be Washington's first home game in seven weeks. Come out and support the Tigers on Senior Night.