TROUP TAKES IT | Tigers win the battle for 11-3A, hold off West Rusk, 35-21

TROUP – Fans have been pointing to the game between West Rusk and Troup not for weeks, but for months.

That’s how big Friday’s game between the two rivals was, not just for the two of them and their own fans, but for the other teams in District 11-3A, Division II, and even potential playoff opponents.

Well, unless Troup stumbles in its final two regular season games, we all know now.

In probably the biggest regular season game of the year in the district, home-team Troup got the win, 35-21, over the visiting Raiders Friday night, as the Tigers managed three interceptions to help seal the win.

Of course, there is more football to play before the postseason, but not much, and because Troup has an open date this coming week, the Tigers all but have the district championship wrapped up. They Do have one more game before the playoffs: at Buffalo on Nov. 7. Troup is 9-0 overall and 5-0 in district play. The best West Rusk, or Arp, could do would be to win their last couple of games, and get a share of the district title.

Next Friday, Oct. 31, West Rusk hosts Buffalo, then visits Arp to close the regular season on Nov. 7. That game will decide who goes into the playoffs as the second seed, and who’s third.

After the Raiders’ first possession of the game stalled out at Troup’s 30-yard-line, a turnover on downs. Still, West Rusk would score first. Troup quarterback Josh Childress, who had been nothing short of flawless through eight games, dropped back to pass and was stripped of the ball by Adrian Vargas. Vargas recovered the ball and returned it 15 yards for the score.

Luis Abelardo’s point after gave West Rusk a 7-0 lead with less than three minutes off the first quarter clock.

After punts by both teams, the Tigers would have it at their own 30 again, and this time, they’d ride running back Brett Wells all the way to paydirt. Wells ran it five times and score from 28 yards out.

But Troup didn’t tie it: the extra point by Anthoy Zuniga missed, and left it 7-6 Raiders, the score as the game began its second quarter.

After a Raiders’ punt, the Tigers would add more, as Wells would carry most of the load. Childress would hit James Pierce for a nice gain and Cameron Hollie would also get a couple touches on the drive and finish it, a 5-yard catch for the touchdown from Childress. The two-point conversion was good (14-7 Troup).

A turnover on downs for the Raiders meant the Tigers would look for more points before the half. It was not meant to be, though, as the Raiders would force a punt.

But that wouldn’t come off without a hitch. The punt was blocked by West Rusk’s Syncere Cleaver, who scooped it up and returned it all the way for a touchdown. Abelardo’s extra point was no good, leaving the Tigers in front, 14-13, with 1:50 left in the half, the eventual halftime score.

Troup’s first drive of the second half: 11 plays. And 11 times, the Tigers never, not once, put the ball in the air. Most of the running was done by Wells and Hollie. Childress got a touch as well, but it was Wells who got into the endzone for the Tigers once again, this time from a yard out. Zuniga’s kick was good for the point after, making 21-13 Tigers with 7:22 remaining in the third quarter.

Following back-to-back punts, West Rusk got things going. Quarterback Judson Dotson connected with Gunnar Harp for a massive gain, all the way to the Troup 35, a 35-yard pass play.

Dotson got loose to the Tigers’ 11, where the Raiders would set up shop. But Dotson tried to fit a pass in to Kam Brown and it was picked off by Troup’s Dee Hollie, who returned the interception to the West Rusk 35, ending the third quarter with Troup still in front, 21-13.

The fourth quarter started with a bang as Wells burst free for a 55-yard touchdown run.

Zuniga hit the extra point and with 11:49 remaining in the game, Troup had its insurance run, up then by two touchdowns (28-13).

 After a turnover on downs from the Raiders and a punt by the Tigers, West Rusk had a bang of there own: Dotson connected with Harp for a 62-yard touchdown.

The Raiders went for two, and got it, Dotson taking it in himself and got West Rusk within a touchdown (28-21), with 6:41 left.

West Rusk attempted an onside kick, but it would be disastrous, as Childress fielded the kick and got free for a 60-yard return for a score, a back-breaking score that put the game away for the Tigers.

Zuniga’s kick gave Troup another two-touchdown lead (35-21 Tigers) with 6 ½ minutes left.

The Tigers intercepted Dotson twice more before the game ended.