Douglas High's Nathan Stevens (86) jumps up to catch a 2-point conversion, during the Tigers' contest with Reed. The successful try brought Douglas within seven, 21-14, but it was as close as the Tigers would get on the evening.
Photo by Ron Harpin.
It’s remarkable how quickly standards change.
Douglas High School football suffered its first loss of the season Thursday night, 21-14, at the hands of the Reed Raiders.
Now 4-1, you could tell the Tigers felt they had a good shot to be 5-0.
A seven-point loss last season to a team of Reed’s caliber may have been considered a moral victory.
This fall, it’s what could have been.
“Our kids faced some challenges tonight and they answered at times,” said Douglas High head coach Kyle Mays. “Some self-inflicted mistakes by me coaching and by some of the players. We will get over it. We will get better.”
Second half shutout
Reed was able to pull in front, 21-6, with 6:31 to go in the second quarter after Bronwyn Rios scampered into the end zone for the second time that half.
However, the Tigers didn’t allow the Raiders to score a point over the final 30-plus minutes.
Going into the halftime intermission, Douglas had a drive stall after a fourth-and-2 was stopped short of the sticks.
Out of the break, the Tigers went three-and-out before starting their second drive of the third quarter in enemy territory, following a Trace Estes fumble recovery and return.
However, Reed snagged one of multiple interceptions on the evening to keep the Tigers out of the red zone.
The Raiders marched all the way down the field before Estes stepped up again.
The senior sprinted around the edge and blocked the 21-yard field goal attempt, keeping the Tigers within two scores.
Douglas responded by nearly going the length of the field, thanks to a 34-yard pitch and catch between Jackson Ovard and Estes.
Facing a 4th-and-2 at the Raider 10, Douglas’ pass fell incomplete.
After forcing a quick punt, the Tigers found the Ovard-to-Estes connection again on fourth down for a 44-yard gain.
Trailing 21-6, Connor Jackson bruised his way in for a two-yard score on a direct snap.
Down by nine, Douglas risked the two-point try and Jackson lobbed one up to Nathan Stevens, who hauled in the two-point conversion on a Tim Tebow-esque jump pass.
The score and two-point conversion made it 21-14 with 3:03 to go.
“It was go get the two and go from there,” said Mays. “We knew exactly what we were going to do. We just kind of pulled a rabbit out of our hat on that one.”
The Tigers were able to force a punt and regain possession with 1:01 left and no timeouts.
Douglas got the ball to its own 36 before taking a shot down the field.
Reed was able to intercept the Tigers final chance and take a knee to solidify the final.
“I could’ve done a better job calling plays tonight. Scenario stuff, down, distance, position on the field,” said Mays. “All of our goals and expectations are still ahead of us. … We have a goal of trying to get that first round bye and winning the region. All of that is still out in front of us. One blemish in non-league isn’t going to kill the season.”
UP NEXT: Douglas will hit the road next Friday to take on Galena (1-3) in the first Class 5A Div. III league match of the fall.
(Douglas High senior Trace Estes (2) leaps up and blocks a Reed field goal attempt during the second half of Douglas' 21-14 loss to the Raiders. / Ron Harpin)
