Douglas High's Ryker Rivinius (20) and Cole Smalley (42) combined to make a tackle against a McQueen running back Saturday in Sparks.
Photo by Carter Eckl.
Douglas’ main priority in practice was setting the edge to make sure that an elusive McQueen team couldn’t best the Tigers out in space.
However, the Lancers’ offense proved their shiftiness isn’t as simple to stop in a 51-30 McQueen win Saturday.
Only one Lancer drive in the opening half didn’t finish in the end zone.
“Just come out of the gate with more fire,” said Douglas head coach Kyle Mays. “We started too slow. We faced some adversity in the first half and we didn’t handle it very well. We didn’t handle it well as coaches; we didn’t handle it well as players.”
McQueen led 38-10 at the break.
After falling behind 9-0, Douglas needed one play to get within one score.
On a play fake, quarterback Owen Evans got loose and sprinted 95 yards for six points.
The one first half drive the Tigers stalled came with their backs in the red zone, as Connor Jackson stepped in front of a wayward pass for an interception.
However, backed up to its own goal line, Douglas couldn’t escape as McQueen got two points with a safety.
The Lancers scored on their next three possessions heading into the locker room.
Douglas was able to counter with a 23-yard field goal off the foot of Grant Gomes.
Mays didn’t blame the early Saturday start time, saying the Tigers just simply need to be better.
“I don’t care if we’re playing on an asphalt parking lot at two in the morning. It’s football – you show up to play,” said Mays.
Nearly all of McQueen’s scoring drives were setup with a carry over 20 yards.
“We worked all week about trying to set the edge and stay out side and we just didn’t execute on that side of it,” Mays said.
(Owen Evans escapes for a 95-yard touchdown run in the first quarter against McQueen Saturday afternoon. / Carter Eckl)
Second half
After falling behind 45-10, the Tigers offense started to click.
Douglas’ Kaleb Valdez pounced on a loose ball to give the Tigers the ball inside of McQueen’s 10-yard line.
On fourth and goal, Evans found Kyle Koontz for a seven-yard touchdown pass.
On the Tigers next drive, Evans found Aden Flory for a 44-yard completion before hitting Trace Estes for a 21-yard touchdown to make it 51-24.
Douglas pounced on an onside kick and marched down the field for six more points, courtesy of a bruising 16-yard run from Jackson.
“We showed what we can do, especially throwing the ball. For them to move the ball and keep getting after it in the second half, there is a little silver lining there,” Mays said.
The Tigers were also battling some injuries that will continue to affect them moving forward.
Captain Jacob Brady was ruled out with a concussion in the first quarter while fellow captain Rock Gignac didn’t suit up due to injury.
Andrew Strand and Sage Adie also battled leg injuries against the Lancers.
UP NEXT: Douglas (1-2) will jump into league play next week at Reno (2-1). Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday.
