Conroe Tigers earn first football victory of the season over College Park

CONROE, Texas--- The Conroe Tigers hosted the College Park Cavaliers in front of a raucous Homecoming crowd Friday night.

Through the first quarter, neither team managed to get on the scoreboard, despite both offenses moving the ball well. Early in the game, Cavalier’s quarterback Jake Hunnicut looked to get his running backs involved in the passing attack. Travis Washburn caught several passes on the opening drive. Washburn is an extremely versatile player that is dangerous both from the backfield and out of the slot position. However, the Tigers linebackers would be the best defensive unit on the field, led by Ty’Dus Clay. Playing with great speed and anticipation, the Tigers were able to shut down the lateral passing attack, never allowing the Cavaliers offense to find a groove.

After their first two drives ended in punts, the Cavs called and perfectly executed, a fake punt to set themselves up in the red zone. Wide receiver Sebastian Cos slipped out of the backfield and broke down the left hash, making for an easy throw from half-back Tyler Givens. To finish the drive, the Cavaliers would get their first touchdown of the night on a pass from Hunnicut to Washburn in the bottom corner of the end zone.

When the Tigers offense is struggling, more often than not they turn to running back Donaven Lloyd to create plays. Looking to respond after the Cavs took a 7-0 lead, the Tigers did just that. Donaven chugged his way down the field, fighting through every tackle, until finally breaking off a 36-yard touchdown run. After a missed extra point attempt, the score was 7-6 with 45 seconds left in the half.

Washburn would return the following kick-off to the Cavs 25-yard-line, allowing the Cavalier’s to kick a field goal just before the half, bringing the score to 10-6.

To start the second half, the Tiger’s defense would pin the Cavalier’s within their own 5 yard line, forcing them to punt from their own end zone on the first drive. Taking quick advantage of the short field, the Tiger’s would get their second touchdown of the night off of a two-yard touchdown run from Lloyd. After a failed two-point conversion attempt, the score fell to 12-10.

Having seized the momentum, the Tigers would not look back. On their next possession, Lloyd broke off an incredible 74-yard run for his third touchdown of the night. After yet another missed extra point, Tigers lead 18-10.

The Tigers offense would keep rolling on their next drive, with quarterback Jordan Black finding wide receiver Jordan Allen across the middle of the field for a 36-yard gain. Just a few plays later, Allen would cap off the drive with a catch in the back of the end zone. After the Tiger’s first and only extra point of the night, Conroe lead 25-10.

Coming off of an offensive explosion in the third quarter, the Tigers defense would take over and play lock-down in the fourth quarter to finish with their first win the season.

After the decisive victory in front of a Homecoming crowd, the Tigers turn to their attention to The Woodlands Highlanders, while the Cavaliers try to rebound at against the Montgomery Bears.