Football: JV Tigers fall to Manogue in final minutes

n a thrilling see-saw battle, the Douglas Tiger JV football team lost its first game of the season, 34-32 to Bishop Manogue. The game featured 5 lead changes, several big plays and long touchdowns, one very controversial non-call, and wasn't decided until the final seconds.

It opened badly for the Tigers as Manogue returned the initial kick-off 90 yards for a touchdown and a 7-0 lead. Douglas didn't flinch, and on their first possession executed a 7 minute drive featuring running backs Dylan Nielson, Connor Hughes, and Cory Dillon. It ended with a 22 yard scoring pass from Sam Cochran to Hughes. Nate Vonahsen's kick tied the score. Douglas then used a short pooch kick on the kick-off and recovered the ball on the 50 yard line. Cochran followed with a 45 yard pass to Nick Maestretti to put the ball on the five. Jackson Ketron carried it in from there for the touchdown. Though a bad snap prevented the extra point, Douglas now led 13-7.

Led by linebacker Justin Tenney, the Douglas defense was stout during the early going, getting the ball back on downs and then forcing a punt on Manogue's first two possessions. However, early in the second quarter, the Tigers went for the first down on a fourth and one at their own 29 and failed to make it. The Miners managed to score with the short field and the extra point gave them a 14-13 lead.

The Tigers punted on their next possession, followed by a long Manogue pass completion which put the Miners in the red zone. The defense stiffened and the drive was ended on a diving interception by Maestretti in the end zone. Moments later it was Maestretti taking a hand-off and running 71 yards for a touchdown. The try for a 2 point conversion was no good, but Douglas had a 19-14 lead as the half ended.

The second half began with an exchange of punts, giving Douglas the ball near midfield. Cochran unloaded a long pass up the west sideline intended for Maestretti. He and the Manogue corner fought for the ball with both players ending up on the ground on the 10. The Manogue player got up with the ball in hand and ran some 90 yards to the end zone. The officials turned a deaf ear to the pleas of the Douglas players and coaches that the player had been down, and awarded a touchdown to Manogue. The score gave them a 21-19 lead.

The 4th quarter began with a Manogue drive that ended in a touchdown and a 28-19 lead. But Douglas wasn't finished. They manufactured a drive of their own through the air with Cochran completing several passes. The last was a 25 yard strike to Vonahsen for the score. The extra point brought Douglas back within two points, 28-26. The Miners didn't quit either. They drove back down to score another touchdown with just 2 minutes left seemingly sealing the game. But the extra point was missed and the door was left ajar for the Tigers.

Douglas got the ball on its 20 yard line. After a short gain and an incompletion, Cochran fired a rainbow up the west sideline to a streaking Maestretti. He caught it in full stride and carried it in for the score and a chance for a tie. The conversion attempt was an ally-oop fade to a leaping Vonahsen in the south-east corner. He made the catch with the Manogue corner pushing him out the back of the end zone, his feet landing an inch or so out of bounds. Douglas was unable to recover the on-sides kick and Manogue ran-out the remaining seconds to win the game.

"There is just no quit in these guys," said head coach Lance Hartzell, "They came back time and again. Every one gave their best effort and that's all we ever ask. I'm very proud of this team."

The Tiger JV's finish the season Wednesday, Oct. 28th, at 7:00 at Carson High School.