Tigers drop first contest of season

Douglas High School football won't finish the year with a perfect record on the road this season after losing to Elko Friday night, 18-16. 

Just about every time the Tigers put up points on the board, Elko was able to march back down the field and return the favor. 

"When you go out to Elko it's always going to be tough," said Douglas head coach Kyle Mays. "It just kind of went in their favor."

Douglas' opening drive went 80 yards on 10 plays for a score, methodically moving the ball down the field before capitalizing on a fade pass from Jackson Ovard to Brenton Weston to the corner of the end zone. 

Elko needed only a few plays to pull out a 65-yard quarterback draw that went for a touchdown. The Tigers blocked the extra point, maintaining a 7-6 lead. Douglas blocked two extra points in the loss. 

The Tigers led 10-6 at the half after a 27-yard field goal and started with possession, but Elko had other ideas.

Elko intercepted the Tigers' opening possession of the second half, setting up inside of midfield.

A 48-yard drive resulted in six points as Elko took its first lead of the game, 12-10, early in the third quarter.

After a pair of punts, Douglas began driving toward the end of the third quarter, starting the fourth quarter with a first-and-goal at the Elko 3.

The Tigers scored on the first play out of the changeover, but Douglas didn't convert a 2-point conversion, making it 16-12 Tigers. 

However, Elko responded in kind.

The host school took advantage of a long kickoff return and went 68 yards, finishing the drive on a short pass for six. 

Douglas' final possession saw the Tigers move the ball into Elko territory, but a failed fourth down conversion gave Elko the ball back at its own 39.

Elko was able to run out the rest of the clock to secure the victory. 

Douglas was able to move the ball for most of the night, but several drives ended in turnovers or fourth down stops.

"We just kept shooting ourselves in the foot, in a lot of aspects," said Mays. "Mental errors, coaching and playing."

Nathan Priou recorded an interception for Douglas in the end zone, which stopped Elko's opening drive of the game.  

UP NEXT: Douglas (1-1) will host Spring Creek (0-2) next Friday in Minden at 7 p.m. 

AREA SCORES

Carson 34, Spring Creek 15

Elko 18, Douglas 16

Fallon 28, North Valleys 0

Wooster 20, Sparks 19 (OT)

Reed 28, Del Oro 14

Union Mine 29, McQueen 20

Galena 29, Chavez 6

El Capitan 52, Hug 0

Shadow Ridge 28, Spanish Springs 20