The Tigers faced off against the Greenville Lions on Oct. 29 for senior night. The Tigers routed the Lions with a score of 45-21 for their last home game of the season.

“We got a great first half,” head coach Barry Norton said. “The second half was disappointing, so as many good things we did in the first, we didn’t [do well] in the second.”

The Lions started the game at their own 22. On the first play, Lions quarterback Westin Jarvis was picked off by Tigers defensive back Jerry Wrightner at their own 45. Wrightner returned it to the end zone for the Tigers’ first touchdown of the game. The Tigers lead 7-0.

The Lions then got the ball at their 32 and quickly made gains down the field. Jarvis picked up 17 yards on the keeper to bring the Lions to the their own 48. The Lions advanced further to the Tigers’ 40 after a 9-yard run from running back Crandall Hale. However, the Tigers gained possession after a turnover on downs at their 31. On the next play, Tigers quarterback Cade Pearson found wide receiver Quan Hampton on the seam for a 69-yard touchdown pass, putting the Tigers up 14-0 with only four minutes into the game.

After the Tiger touchdown, the Lions began the next drive at their 35. However, Tigers defensive end Jacobi Brewer forced a fourth and 13 with a 3-yard sack on third down. The Lions elected to punt and  the Tigers took possesion at their 46. Tigers running back J’kardi Witcher then exploded for a 46-yard touchdown to the right,  the Tigers’ lead 21-0.

“First half, we executed well,” Witcher said. “[Since this was] senior night, we were talking about how we were going to deliver.”

With five minutes left in the quarter, the Lions managed to advance down the field to their 49. The Lions were stopped when Wrightner caught an interception at the 50 and scored for his second touchdown of the game. The Tigers extended their lead 28-0.

“Defensively, we created plays. We shut them out,” defensive back Jacorien Walker said. “For a bunch of plays, we did what we were supposed to. We were ready mentally.”

The Lions elected to punt at the end of their next drive, letting the Tigers receive the ball at their 41. Pearson and Witcher then connected on a 34-yard pass to get the Tigers to the Lions’ 25. Running back Deshen Villa made a 12-yard run and then wide receiver Jaylen Rhone caught a 13-yard pass to bring the score to 35-0 as the first quarter drew to a close.

The second quarter started with both teams exchanging punts. Midway through the quarter, Brewer picked off Jarvis at the Lions’ 40. The Tigers scored their sixth touchdown of the game when Hampton rushed for 13 yards on a reverse end around, putting the Tigers up 42-0 with five minutes left in the half.

The Lions took over at their 29. They made some progress when Hale ran for 15 yards, putting the Lions at their 45. With two minutes left in the game, Tigers defensive end Dejonta Harper recovered Jarvis’ fumble at the Lions’ 49. With less than a minute left in the half, wide receiver Jacoby Block caught a 13-yard pass to bring the Tigers to their 16 yard, setting up a field goal from Tigers kicker Ethan Montez to end the quarter. The first half concluded with a score of 45-0.

The Tigers’ first drive of the second half ended with a punt from their 42. After getting the ball on their 28, the Lions made big gains down the field. The Lions offense made a huge gain when Jarvis ran 14 yards, leading the offense to the Tigers’ 26. Midway through the quarter, Lions wide receiver Freddy Reyes hauled in a 16-yard pass at the Tigers’ 6 yard line. Hale then punched in a 4-yard touchdown to get the Lions their first touchdown of the game, 45-7.

“We slacked off because we were winning by 45,” Walker said. “I believe it was a good game for us. I was glad to end my night like this on senior night.”

The Tigers punted from their 30 to the Lions’ 34 at the end of their next drive. With three minutes left in the quarter, Hale burst for a 47-yard run to get the Lions to the Tigers’ 18. One minute later, Jarvis finds Reyes in the end zone for a 14-yard touchdown, closing the lead 45-14 by the end of the third quarter.

The Tigers punted the ball to the Lions’ 25 at the end of their next drive. The Lions then took a lot of time off of the clock. With one minute left in the game, Lions wide receiver Derrick Givens brings in a 6-yard pass to the final touchdown of the game. The Tigers win 45-21.

“We had a good game but we wanted it to be a shutout,” defensive end Jacorien Larry said. “[We’re] going to try to make it a shutout next week.”