November 26, 2016 - Bryan College Station - The Tenaha Tigers varsity football team has moved to the Regional Championship/ State Quarterfinal round of the UIL football playoffs after defeating the District 12 champion Iola Bulldogs last Friday by a lopsided 44-0 score. This was Tenaha’s third consecutive playoff shut-out.
The Tigers outpaced the Bulldogs with a 323-49 yard rushing advantage, and an impressive 217 to minus 3 yard advantage through the air. Tenaha held Iola to a mere 3 first downs during the contest while gaining 17 first downs themselves.
Tiger CJ Horn hit Jay Lloyd for a 50-yard touchdown pass to get Tenaha a 6-0 advantage early. This proved to be the game’s only score for the first stanza. Trai Gardner took a direct snap, from the Wildcat formation, around the end for a 51-yard touchdown which gave the Tigers a 12-0 lead with 2:41 left in the first half. Teammate Abel Rodriguez tacked on the extra point kick to boost the THS lead to 13-0.
Tiger defender Monterrio Williams scooped, and scored, a Bulldog fumble for a 29-yard THS touchdown with just 58 seconds remaining in the first half of play. The Tigers took a 20-0 lead into the locker room at the midway break.
Gardner added his second touchdown of the night on a 33-yard reception with 5:58 left in the third period. Rodriguez added the extra point and Tenaha enjoyed a 27-0 lead.
A long LaDarrius Garrett run set up a 22-yard Rodriguez field goal with 2:33 left in the third period. This gave THS a 30-0 advantage.
Gardner scored his third touchdown, from three yards out, with 8:26 left in the contest to help Tenaha boost their advantage to 37-0.
Garrett added the final touchdown of the contest when he ran a sweep 27 yards to the endzone with 5:36 remaining. Rodriguez tacked on the extra point to give Tenaha a 44-0 lead which held up for the remainder of the contest.
Tenaha will next face the Bremond Tigers who are also 13-0 this season. Bremond is the winner of District 10. Bremond beat the Maud Cardinals last Friday by a 48-20 margin.
Tenaha has out-scored their playoff opponents by an impressive 202-0 margin.The showdown between the Tenaha and Bremond Tigers is slated for Bryan College Station High School Friday, Dec. 2 at 7 p.m.
