The Tigers jumped past the Forney High School Jackrabbits tonight at Tiger Stadium at Grim Park to win their homecoming game, 49-10.

The Tigers started off strong with a fumble recovery on the first play of the game and an interception on the next defensive play. The Tigers capitalized on the interception with a 10 yard touchdown reception. After a 40 yard reception by the Jackrabbits, they kicked a field goal which made the score 7-3. The Tigers and Jackrabbits then traded touchdowns with a 67 yard touchdown reception to senior wide receiver Rian Cellars, then on the ensuing kickoff the Jackrabbits took it 101 yards for a touchdown. To end the half, Cellars scored on a 19 yard touchdown reception 21-10.

“I wouldn’t have been able to do any of that [without] all my long receivers [making] some great catches,” junior quarterback Brayson Mchenry said. “We played really [well] as a team, so it felt good.”

For the first half of the second quarter, it was a defensive showdown. The Tigers scored the first points of the quarter with a 40 yd touchdown to senior Tre Roberts. Towards the end of the first half, the Tigers closed in on the endzone. Mchenry threw for his 5th touchdown of the half, to Cellars, as time expired in the half which made the score 35-10.

“They did some things that forced us to adjust in the game and [the] kids did a great job of making the adjustments,” head coach Gerry Stanford said. “We put the ball in the air a little bit more, more or less because of what they were doing, and that allowed us to balance ourselves out and take advantage of some things.”

The third quarter was mostly possessed by the Tigers with Jackrabbits only having few chances with the ball. The run game was on for the Tigers ending the opening drive with a 7 yard touchdown run for junior running back Braylon Stewart. After a quick defensive stop, the Tigers got the ball back and continued to eat away at the clock. Braylon Stewart scored his second touchdown of the quarter with seconds left on the clock making the score 49-10.

“I felt very good,” Stewart said. “I love these boys and we were gonna come out every night and do what we can for the city.”

With the Tigers owning a big lead, they ate away at the clock for the rest of the game, leaving the Tigers to win 49-10 on homecoming night.

“Winning on homecoming, it’s a proud moment,” senior Caden Miller said. “It’s something we talk about and look forward to. [It’s] something everybody wants to do.”

The Tigers will face off in an away game against Mount Pleasant at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 23.