Metter

Metter can't keep up with Treutlen County

Treutlen at Metter

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METTER - It was all offense Friday night at The Jungle in Metter as the Tigers (2-7) and visiting Treutlen County (7-2) combined for zero punts, 884 yards of offense and 10 touchdowns in a 40-27 Treutlen win.

The loss helped cement another no-show in the post season for Metter as it currently sits in sixth place in Region 3B – A, while Treutlen secured third place in the region and a spot in the playoffs.

The first half turned into a shootout as six of the seven offensive drives resulted in touchdowns. Metter missed a field goal at the end of the half to halt the trend.

Big plays were on display as well. Treutlen had seven plays of 20 or more yards, four of which were for 30 or more. All four of the Vikings’ touchdowns in the half were plays of 20 or more yards. Metter held its own however, as the Tigers had 10 plays of 10 or more yards.

Treutlen began the scoring on the game’s first drive as the Vikings ran plays of 31 yards and 14 yards before Sean Moore (1 rush, 2 yard; 1 reception, 22 yards, 1 TD; 1 INT) caught a R.J. Dennard (9-14, 118 yards, 3 TD’s) pass on fourth and four and took it into the end zone.

MHS responded on its first drive of the game with a 13-play, five-minute drive that resulted in four first downs and a fourth down conversion of its own. The Tigers had five plays on the drive that went for 10 or more yards, including a third-and-two conversion by Kyle Smith (18 rushes, 115 yards) off a direct snap and a fourth-and-one conversion on a Pete Nagel (16-32, 236 yards, 2 TD’s, 2 INT’s) quarterback sneak. Dean Eason (10 catches, 125 yards, 2 TD’s; 2 rushes, 14 yards, 1 TD) finished the drive on a 12-yard run to tie the score.

Treutlen drove right back down the field on its next possession to go up 15-7 on a Devonte Pierce (1 catch, 21 yards, 1 TD; 1 INT) 21-yard touchdown catch and run and a Jacob Smith (1 rush, 3 yards) three-yard run on the two-point conversion.

However, it was THS’s next play that changed the game.

The Vikings executed an onsides kick that the Tigers were not ready for and recovered the ball at Metter’s 48-yard line. The Vikings converted three third downs on the drive before Cartell McLendon (15 rushes, 252 yards, 3 TD’s; 2 catches, 26 yards, 1 TD) ran for a 29-yard touchdown. It appeared as though the Tigers would stop McLendon in the backfield as three orange jerseys converged on the running back, but Dennard threw his back into the oncoming defenders allowing McLendon to break free for the score and a 22-7 lead.

Metter was down, but not out. The Tigers scored on its next possession with three plays of over 20 yards, including a fourth-and-seven conversion and a two-yard quarterback sneak by Nagel for the score.

However, the score was short lived as THS scored less than two minutes later with the help of three plays of over 30 yards including a 31-yard screen pass to McLendon for the score and deflating 28-14 lead.

The Tigers had one more chance to put points on the board before the half, but Jose Recendiz (0-1 FG, 3-4 EP) missed a 23-yard field goal as time expired.

The second half began much differently the first half. Defense became a factor. On the first drive of the half, MHS drove from its own 20 to THS’s 13-yard line with the help of three plays of over 20 yards before Sean Moore picked off Nagel at the 13. It was the first drive that did not end with a chance for points, let alone a turnover.

However, Metter’s defense got into the mix on THS’s resulting drive when Devin Dekle hit Dennard from behind to force a fumble and then fell on the ball to recover it as well. The excitement for the home crowd would last however, as Nagel threw his second interception of the night on the very next play.

The interception turned into points for the Vikings as they escaped a fourth-and-one, a sack and intentional grounding call on Dennard and a 31-yard, flea flicker touchdown called back due to holding. On the next play after the holding call, with the Vikings facing a third-and-37, McLendon raced up the right sideline for a 42-yard score and a 34-14 lead.

The scoring picked up from there, as the Tigers converted three third downs and scored on its next possession – a 23-yard touchdown reception by Eason in the back corner of the end zone.

THS, however, scored five plays later – after three consecutive plays of 10 or more yards – on another McLendon run, this one for 21 yards.

Metter scored on its next possession – an Eason grab over a defender in the back of the end zone – to make it 40-27, but the Tigers could not get the ball back to mount a comeback.

The Tigers travel to Portal next week to face a Panthers team it saw the first week of the season in a 23-13 Tiger win.