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The Dupo Tigers varsity football team accomplished several things in their 18-0 win over conference foe Carlyle Indians on Friday night. It was the first homecoming win for the ailing tiger football program in seven years. Dupo Tigers Coach Vernon Ferry said, “The homecoming win was big tonight. These kids needed something to help them pick up their morale.” After having two winless seasons in 2006 and 2007, the Tigers notched two wins in the 2008 season and the win over Carlyle gave them their third win of this season to better last season’s record and they still have two games left. Coach Ferry said, “It’s a step in the right direction. We’ve been competitive all season, very competitive against our conferences best.” In addition, the win kept Dupo’s playoff hopes alive for this season.
The story of the game was the field and the temperatures. After heavy rains Thursday and Friday A.C. Daugherty field was soaked and muddy, very muddy. And the temperatures were getting pretty chilly, especially if you’re wet. Coach Ferry said, “The field conditions made the game closer than it actually was. The mud was five inches deep. We did a good job to get what we did. Our line blocked very well. We played just straight up smash mouth football. Everything was north and south tonight. You couldn’t cut back because if you did you went down.” That smash mouth style of football helped the Tigers amass 464 yards of total offense, 405 yards rushing and 59 yards passing. The thunder and lightning combination of Joe Higgerson and Matt Ragsdale was in full effect as Higgerson gained 171 yards on 32 carries and Ragsdale gained 117 yards on just 9 carries. Fullback Tyler Maynard contributed 57 very tough yards inside and while Sean Pierce may have had only 39 yards rushing and 29 yards receiving, it was in clutch situations and he showed tenacity in breaking tackles and finishing his runs.
The real story with the offense all year has been the offensive line who put together another impressive performance Friday night. Coach Ferry said, “Our line has bonded well all year. They bought into what we’re trying to do last year, but what made them better this year was the fact that we’re healthier and physically stronger. Adam Mitchell and Kyle Thompson spent a lot of time in the weight room in the off season, but with Keenan Outlaw stepping into the center position it allowed us to move Dylan Carner to the guard position and that made us stronger. Outlaw has been impressive to move from being a reserve tackle to our starting center. That position is involved in every play, he starts every offensive play so it all revolves around him and Keenan has done a hell of a job.” With the line playing as well as they have been, Tiger backs have been patient and using their line well. “The big thing with our offense is that our backs have to be patient and let the blocks develop. If you get up inside there too quickly you may get some yardage but you probably could have had more staying with your blockers. So you’re saying maybe three or four yards versus six or eight yards on a carry. Also, it makes it difficult for the defense to find the ball carrier sometimes.”
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