The Gordonsville Tigers won 20-12 over the Smith County Owls, beating the county rivals for the first time since 2013 and for the first time in Carthage since 1998.
Braxton Givens got a touchdown on the first drive of the game for the Tigers, running the ball in from the 5 yard line. The score came after a 60 yard drive in which Givens had 31 yards on 6 carries. Late in the drive, a defensive pass interference penalty on the Owls gave the Tigers a second chance after the Owls had held them to 4th and 9.
The next two drives saw both teams fail to get any offense going, but the Owls were able to string together a few big plays on their second drive of the game at 5:03 left in the 2nd Quarter, which saw John Ross Hord run the ball in from 17 yards out. The Owls failed to convert the PAT, leaving the Owls down one, 7-6.
The Tigers bounced right back, following a series of runs by Givens that culminated in a touchdown run just two minutes after the Owls had scored to go up by eight, 14-6.
Smith County looked as if they were going to bounce right back with a score of their own, following a face mask on the kickoff return to give them good position. A few big plays out the Owls at 3rd and 5 with 54 seconds left in the half, but a dropped snap pushed the Owls to 4th and 10, which they weren’t able to convert.
The Tigers started the second half off with an onside kick, which they recovered to start off on the 43 yard line. Gordonsville was able to make it to the 5 yard line, but a missed field goal attempt gave the Owls their first opportunity of the second half.
Smith County went on an eight minute drive, but a failed fourth and goal attempt gave the Tigers the ball back on the 3 yard line.
The Tigers were able to drive 97 yards and score off of a Givens touchdown to make the score 20-6 with only a minute and a half left, but the Owls weren’t ready to give up without a fight.
The Owls were able to score in two plays following a big 45 yard run by Cameron Spivey followed by a 20 yard touchdown pass to Hord. The Owls decided to try and go for two, but were not able to convert making the score 20-12 Tigers with 1:14 left in the game.
The Owls weren’t able to covert the onside kick, allowing Gordonsville to run the clock out of the game for the win.
Braxton Givens received the DTC Player of the Game
[wdca_ad id=”11404″ ]
[wdca_ad id=”11484″ ]
