The Douglas Tigers got a look at one of the leading contenders to win the Sierra League football title when they traveled to play South Tahoe Saturday.
And, following a 42-17 loss in which South Tahoe scored on its first play from scrimmage and built a 35-3 lead by halftime, the Tigers now have four weeks to prove they are better than the final score showed in the Sierra League opener.
That challenge starts Friday at Keith Roman Field when the Hug Hawks come to town looking to avenge a 22-19 loss to the Tigers last season that sent both teams in opposite directions.
The win was the first of the season for Douglas, which went on to make the playoffs. Hug was 2-0 in division play entering the game, but finished the season tied with Douglas for the fourth and final playoff spot at 3-3. The Tigers advanced by virtue of their win over the Hawks.
Hug is off to a good start again this year and is threatening to have a breakthrough season.
The Hawks were 3-0 before suffering a 33-10 loss nonleague setback gainst Sparks two weeks ago. They responded last week by ripping Reno, 35-9, in their Sierra League debut.
Like South Tahoe, Hug features a balanced offensive attack that has shown the ability to move the ball on the ground and in the air. Hug fullback Barkari Taylor is a workhorse between the tackles, while tailback Antoine Barlowe has the speed to score from anywhere on the field.
Hawks quarterback Marco Bisio is an group of receivers to chose from. He completed eight of 10 passes and had two touchdown tosses against the Huskies last week.
Rollins Stallworth's team is also pretty good defensively. The Hawks limited Reno to less than 80 ayrds of total offense.
Things started badly for the Tigers against the Vikings when Jake Hurwitz broke free for a 75-yard touchdown run on the first play of the game.
Douglas stopped South Tahoe's next drive and used a 35-yard field goal by Andrew Andres to cut their deficit to 7-3, but the Vikings cruised from there. South Tahoe scored touchdowns on four consecutive possessions and took a 32-point lead to the locker room at halftime.
The Tigers put together three long drives in the second half, The first, an 18-play, 60 yard march that ended with a South Tahoe interception in the end zone.
Douglas then put together back-to-back scoring drives of 62 and 85 yards.
Drew hall finished the first TD drive with a 2-yard scoring plunge.
Monte McCann scored the Tigers' final touchdown on a 3-yard run with 1:16 remaining.
McCann finished with 110 yards on 19 carries, while Hall added 77 yards on 18 rushes.
Douglas quarterback Jared Kenson completed 10 of 22 passes for 146 yards, but was intercepted twice.
Gabe Hatchett caught seven passes for 75 yards.
Erik Olson added 59 yards on two receptions.
South Tahoe's Hurwitz, who didn't have a carry in the fourth quarter, finished with 187 yards on 14 rushes.
