The Douglas Midget Division Tigers advanced to the Snow Bowl Championship game Friday night by delivering a total team effort to defeat the Sparks Cardinals 30-12.
Utilizing an overpowering running attack the Tigers scored on each of their first five possessions.
The Tiger defense gave up a score early, but then held the explosive Cardinals to six points until early in the 4th quarter when the Cardinals scored their second TD.
Spike Agosta had an interception. Derek Shoaf, Cory Hartzell and Kyle Luken stuffed the Sparks running attack all night, while Ryan Moore, Rebecca Swift and Justin Deeter kept runners from getting outside on the Tiger defense and kept the passing game under control.
Special teams played an important role as well. Cameron Cook recovered a fumbled punt in the first quarter that resulted in a Tigers touchdown. Dustin Newton had a big 30 yard kickoff return after the Cardinals last score in the fourth quarter.
Eddie Shope and Kyle Luken led the offense with Shope throwing for one touchdown to Keenan Copp, one to Luken and running in two touchdowns as well.
But, you win games in the trenches, and the offensive and defensive line play of the Tigers was exceptional.
Chris Platt, Eddie Brewer, Adrianne Krull, Hayes Wilson, Chris Valentine, Cameron Buccholz and Jacob Phillips ripped the Cardinals defense with overpowering blocks all night allowing Luken, Cook, Copp and Shope to rush for over 260 yards.
Shane Stanfield, Morgan Ovard, Ryan Guzman, Clyde Keith and Tyree Holdridge anchored the defensive line that kept blockers tied up and Shoaf, Hartzell and Luken roaming free to annihilate the Cardinal runners.
The Tigers will play for the Desert Empire "Snow Bowl" championship at 2:30pm Saturday, at Don Mello Park, in Sparks.
