The Tenaha Tigers got a final warm up before a looming showdown with Bremond next week.
Tenaha (13-0) absolutely manhandled Iola, 44-0, Friday afternoon at Merrill Green Stadium. Next up for the Tigers will be No. 1 Bremond — the two-time defending state champion.
Tenaha scored on the game’s first play when quarterback CJ Horn found Jay Lloyd wide open downfield for a 50-yard touchdown pass. Tenaha’s offense looked sluggish the rest of the half, for the most part, with a lost fumble and a missed field goal.
The Tigers got on the board late in the half when Trai Gardner ran a 51-yard touchdown from the Wildcat position to give Tenaha a 13-0 lead. Senior safety Monterrio Williams later scooped up a fumble and rumbled 31 yards for a score to give Tenaha a 20-0 lead at the half.
Iola couldn’t get its slot-T offense in gear at all in the second half. Tenaha forced five- consecutive three-and- outs and minus-17 yards of offense to start the second half.
Tenaha forced Iola to punt 12 times — something typically unheard of, especially in a regional playoff game.
The Tenaha defense starts with the big, rugged, physical line of Hunter Wagstaff, TK Gardner, Chase Lily and Jaurmez Brock. Guys like Williams, Onterio Thompson and Lloyd make running the ball against Tenaha incredibly tough.
The Tenaha defense will have its biggest challenge of the year next week against Roshauud Paul and Bremond.
Tenaha has scored 677 points and allowed only 56 through 13 games this season. The Tigers have won their first three playoff games by a combined score of 202-0 (d. Sabine Pass, 82-0; d. Meridian, 76-0; d. Iola 44-0).
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