Football: Tiger JV football stays unbeaten

The Douglas Tiger JV Football team was able to remain undefeated with a 35-12 victory over the Galena Grizzlies Saturday. The win improved their record to 5-0.

Several Tigers performed very well, but perhaps the best was QB Sam Cochran who threw five touchdown passes to 4 different receivers.

Early in the first quarter it was Galena who was moving the ball, but after a completed pass in Tiger territory, safety Nate Vonahsen stripped the ball from the receiver and it was recovered by cornerback Conner Hughes. A few plays later Cochran was able to hit Vonahsen on a short slant, and he ran it in for a 50-yard score. Vonahsen then kicked the extra point to give Douglas the 7-0 lead.

The Douglas defense then began to put the clamps on the Grizzlies. Led by end Trevor Shafer and linebacker Justin Tenney, Galena was forced into punting situations the rest of the half. Meanwhile the offense moved the ball between the 30s with the running of Hughes, Dylan Nielson, and Corey Dillon. From there Cochran threw two more touchdown passes, both to wide receiver Nick Maestretti. Vonahsen was good on both extra points and Douglas led at halftime 21-0.

Douglas wasn't able to move the ball on their first possession of the second half, but after the defense forced another punt from Galena, they fared much better.

After using the running game to move to the Galena 35, Cochran threw high to wide out Steven Werth who made a great stretching catch and then scampered in for a touchdown. Vonahsen's point made it 28-0. The Tiger defense continued to stifle the Grizzlies the rest of the quarter, at one point forcing a fumble from their quarterback on a huge hit by Jackson Ketron.

Galena was finally able to score midway through the fourth quarter after a controversial fourth down pass interference call gave them first and goal at the five. The Tiger reserve offense was able to answer with a score of their own. A mix of plays, and two long runs by Nielson put the ball on the five, and from there Cochran threw to Ben Khongkhatitham, who made a nice fingertip catch for the touchdown. The extra point made it 35-6. Galena was able to tack on a meaningless score with a minute left to make the final 35-12.

Head coach Lance Hartzell was complimentary of Cochran's performance, but was quick to point out that the pass protection by the offensive line made it all possible. "Those guys (Jeremiah Crawford, Jordan Pruitt, Pierce Dykes, Logan Shafer, and Matt Wylie) were solid protecting the quarterback. That's how he was able to have the day he had."

The next game for the Tigers is Friday at 4:30 p.m. at Damonte Ranch.