MALAKOFF - The Malakoff Tigers snapped a 17 year losing streak to the Kerens Bobcats in physical, hard-fought style Friday night in a convincing 23-16 victory at Tiger field.

The Tigers earned the 14-2A district title with the win. Wth a loss they miss the playoffs entirely.

“My hats off to Malakoff,” Kerens head coach Russell Anderson said. “The Tigers took advantage of our mistakes and outlasted us. … I wish them luck in the playoffs.”

The Bobcats made many mistakes in the game. On special teams, Kerens fumbled the ball twice in the second quarter on kickoff returns, giving the Tigers great field position on the Bobcats 20 and 16 yard lines.

After the first fumble Kerens held Malakoff on fourth and 11 at the Bobcats 21 yard line. Kerens took over at the 6:47 mark of the quarter and this when some bizarre occurrences plagued the Bobcats.

After a holding penalty, and illegal procedure on the first two downs, Pat Faulk rushed for six yards on first and 28 from the three yard line. Then Micheal Jordan rushed for 20 on third and 22. But on fourth and 2 from the 29, Faulk took the snap, appearing to draw Malakoff off-sides. The penalty was not called.

Faulk assumed he had a free play and passed to Tyler Green on a streak down the Tigers sideline. Green appeared to be held by defensive back Vanoid Dawson on the play, but the officials did not penalize the Tigers.

“The fourth down play was designed to pull the defense off-sides (and) Pat executed properly. … We all thought the officials saw the off-sides so the pass to Green was like a free play," Anderson said. " … The defender practically tackled Tyler (but) we can only do so much. We just didn’t get the breaks.”

The turnover led to the Tigers go ahead points as Cody Davies hauled in a 27-yard touchdown pass from Bernard Hall on a fly pattern to put Malakoff up 16-9 over the Bobcats. But what happened on the ensuing kickoff slammed the door on Kerens.

Tigers kicker Cesar Garcia recovered his own onside kick at midfield with 3:18 remaining in the period. Three plays later the Tigers hit pay dirt on a 41-yard pitch and catch from Hall to Davies putting Malakoff ahead 23-9 after Garcia’s extra point. The lead would never be relinquished.

The Bobcats started the game on fire, scoring on a five-play drive culminating at the 9:31 mark of the first quarter, as Faulk connected with Trey Lindsey on a 2-yard post to give Kerens a 6-0 lead.

The Bobcats continued to add to their lead after Blake McClure recovered a Dawson fumble at the Kerens 6yard line. The Bobcats put together a 12-play drive down to the Tigers 2-yard line. They elected to kick a Ryan Leerskov field goal with 4:55 remaining to put the Bobcats up 9-0.

The third quarter was scoreless as Malakoff controlled the ball with Jackson Blacketer carrying the load. Blacketer led all rushers with 136 yards on 27 carries.

“Their offensive line controlled us,” Anderson said. “We had a lot of trouble stopping him.”

The Tigers used the power I formation to pound the Bobcats. The formation featured 325-pound senior Damien Wilson leading Blacketer through the Kerens defensive front. It was smash-mouth football at its finest. And it worked.

Faulk scored with 2:43 remaining in the fourth quarter on a 5-yard run. Leerskov provided the extra point to close out the scoring for the Bobcats.

Kerens still leads the Trinity River Rivalry series with 45 wins to the Tigers 23 and three ties over 71 meetings.



Malakoff 23, Kerens 16

Malakoff 6 17 0 0 — 23

Kerens 9 0 0 7 — 16



First Quarter

K --- Trey Lindsey 2 pass from Pat Faulk (kick failed), 9:31

K --- Ryan Leerskov 20 field goal 4:55

M --- Bernard Hall 6 run (kick failed), 2:46

Second Quarter

M — Cesar Garcia 22 FG, 7:53

M --- Cody Davies 22 pass from Hall (Garcia kick), 3:23

M --- Davies 41 pass from Hall (Garcia kick), 2:07

Fourth Quarter

K — Faulk 5 run (Leerskov kick), 2:43



M K

First downs 12 12

Rush-yards41-120 28-162

Passing yards177 152

C-A-I 5-16-0 10-18-2

Fumbles-lost3-1 2-2

Punts-avg. 4-37 4-29

Penalties-yards7-55 6-48



Individual

Rushing — M: Jackson Blacketer 27-136, Bernard Hall 10-(-4), Cornelius Richardson 3-0, Vanoid Dawson 1-(-8). K: Patrick Faulk 15-44, Micheal Jordan 12-98, Billy Littleton 1-20.

Passing — M: Bernard Hall 5-16-0-152. K: Patrick Faulk 10-17-1-177, Ryan Leerskov 0-1-1-0.

Receiving — M: Cody Davies 3-110, Vanoid Dawson 1-25, Truman Dowell 1-17. K: Micheal Jordan 6-136, Ryan Leerskov 3-39, Trey Lindsey 1-2.