Tigers roar on opening night against East Central with 40-12 win

The opening night of football season is a magical time of year; the promise of cooler weather is just around the corner after a long summer; and the thoughts of leaves falling, and football are on the mind. On a warm humid evening, with storms brewing all around, the Tigers kicked of the 2024 football campaign.

After coming back down to Class 5A, the question on most Tiger fans' mind was how the offensive and defensive line play would improve, and it wouldn’t take long for the tone to be set in this game.

On the opening offensive play of the game, left tackle Wyatt Stephens sealed the edge and fullback Korbin Dietz got a key block to spring Beckett Robinson for an 8-yard gain on end around.

On the next play, center Jayden Whitehead and right guard Kael Carey sealed the left side while right tackle Carter Kelly held the right, running back Jake Girty was able to make a linebacker miss for a 9-yard gain, and the games opening first down.

The next play, quarterback Cash McAlvain completed his first attempted pass of the season to Robinson for an 8-yard gain. After an incomplete pass and a 4-yard run by Girty, McAlvain connected with Robinson on a 30-yard touchdown pass, who climbed over the defender, who was in good position to take the pass away for the opening touchdown of the season. The extra point was missed for a Tiger 6-0 lead.

On the opening series for the Cardinals, the Tigers had a chance to get off the field early. After two short runs, the Cardinals completed a third down pass to Veshion Arps, who was bracketed by two Tiger defenders. The next Cardinal first down came on another connection from quarterback Ryder Muninger to Arps for 15 yards. After a sack by Junior linebacker Traeven Morrison pushed the Cardinals behind the chains, Muninger was able to scramble for just enough for the first down.

The Tigers forced another fourth down but the Cardinals running back, Erion Logan, was able to make a couple of Tigers miss to convert and keep the drive alive. On the fifth third down of the drive, the Cardinals punched it in from the 1-yard line. The drive took 10:15 off the clock and required 5 third downs as well as 2 fourth down conversions.

The Tiger second drive was capped off by a 1 yard run by Girty. Most of the heavy lifting was provided by the Tiger offensive line who were dominating up front and providing huge holes for the running game that picked up 79 yards on the drive which only used 4 minutes of the game clock giving the Tigers a 13-6 lead.

The second Cardinal drive of the game stalled after a series of sloppy plays, which culminated with a Cardinal personal foul. The Tigers held this time on the third down and forced a Cardinal punt. With 3:20 to go in the first half, the Tigers began their third drive form their own 17-yard line after a good Cardinal punt.

After a incompletion on third down, Robinson dropped back deep into the Tiger backfield for a punt for perhaps the biggest play of the game. After receiving the snap, the senior receiver rolled to his left, finding the corner sealed by a good block by sophomore Isvan Santana, Beckett turned on the speed and picked up the fourth down with a 22-yard run.

On fourth down from the 50-yard line, tight end Lane Fisher and Stephens completely collapsed the left side of the Cardinal front for a 20-yard gain by Girty. On second down with 35 second to go in the half, McAlvain was able to connect with Cutter Girdner for a 30-yard touchdown strike to deflate the Cardinals right before halftime.

On the second play of the half for the Cardinals, they were able to confuse the Tiger defense and connect on a play action pass for a 77-yard touchdown strike to Arps to give the Cardinals some life. The Tigers needed to answer to maintain their momentum, so once again they leaned on that offensive line to provide big holes for the running game and protect McAlvain.

The Tiger offense marched down the field. At the 22-yard line on fourth down, Tahlequah head coach Brad Gilbert once again called Robinsons number on a big fourth and third call. The senior responded with a 14-yard run down to the 8-yard line to set up a first and goal. Girty carried the ball and several Cardinals into the endzone with him to add to the Tiger lead of 27-12.

The Tiger defense began the next Cardinal series with a chip on their shoulder after the big touchdown pass on the previous Cardinal possession, forcing a 3-and-out on a big hit by safety Xaxton Carshall and Morrison followed by a sack by Chris Perry, which forced a third and long. The long ball by Muninger fell harmlessly to the turf on third down, which was covered well by a Tiger defense forcing a Cardinal punt.

The next Tigers offense would find themselves with their best field possession of the night, starting inside of Cardinal territory at the 46-yard line. Girty again gashed the Cardinal defense with several runs, taking the ball down to the 29-yard line. Tiger penalties would seemingly stall the drive from there until McAlvain would take matters into his own hands with a 17-yard scramble on a fourth and 16 to keep the drive alive, and then scored from the 19-yard-line on the next play to give the Tigers the lead at 34-12.

After another Cardinal 3-and-out, the Tigers began their next drive from their own 30-yard line. Once again, the Tiger offensive line controlled the line of scrimmage and moved the ball down the field exclusively on the ground, finishing up the drive with the third touchdown of the night by the First State Bank Player of the Game Girty, ending the scoring at 40-12.

The Tigers ended the game with 306 rushing yards, 168 by Girty. McAlvain was 6-18 for 112 yards and two touchdowns. The defense held the Cardinals to 101 yards rushing and 185 yards passing. The only turnover came late in the game for the Tigers. The Tigers did give up 107 penalty yards and they will need to clean that up.

What's next

The next Tahlequah football game is at Doc Wadley stadium Sept. 6 at 7:00 p.m. where the Tigers will take on the Chieftains of Sapulpa.