Outlaws topple Tigers in football

The Outlaws outscored the visiting Taft Tigers 41-22 at home at Reed Stadium in their first home game of the season.

Sisters dominated the first half, scoring 28 points on 279 yards of total offense with a balanced attack of 145 yards rushing and 134 yards passing, compared to Taft’s six points on 149 yards total offense.

Ethan Eby scored Sisters’ first touchdown of the night on a one-yard run with just over three minutes left in the first quarter. Reid Woodson missed on the point-after attempt, but at the close of the quarter the Outlaws held a 6-0 lead.

Kolbi Cotner added the Outlaws’ second TD on a 51-yard pass from Hunter Bronson on the first play of the second period. The Outlaws were successful on their two-point conversion attempt and Sisters extended their lead to 14-0.

Later in the quarter, Sisters took possession at their own 30 yard line, but fumbled on the first play of the drive. The Tigers recovered the ball at the 39 yard line. On their first play of the drive, Cotner stripped the ball and Spencer Davis recovered, which gave the ball right back to the Outlaws.

Hunter Bronson threw a 60-yard TD pass to Hudson Beckwith with 7:48 left in the quarter. Woodson kicked it through the uprights and the Outlaws jumped to a 21-0 advantage.

With 56 seconds left in the half, the Tigers scored on a 61-yard pass. Their two-point conversion attempt failed, but Taft was on the scoreboard, 21-6.

Sisters took possession, and Davis made an outstanding 50-yard run down to the 30-yard line. Kayl Mock finished the drive when he pushed up the middle for an eight-yard TD run. Woodson’s kick was good and the Outlaws entered the half on top 28-6.

After a silent third quarter, the Tigers scored midway through the final period. A successful two-point conversion helped Taft narrow the Outlaws lead to 28-14.

The Tigers attempted an onside kick, but the Outlaws grabbed the ball. On Sisters’ first play of the drive, Beckwith scored on a 46-yard TD run. Woodson nailed the PAT once again, and the Outlaws extended their lead to 35-14 with just under five minutes left on the clock.

Taft answered with a TD, a successful PAT, and again closed the gap to 35-22.

On the ensuring possession, Mock made a 40-yard run. The outlaws capped the drive with a 40-yard pass from Bronson to Cotner, who went up high, and caught the ball in the end zone for Sisters’ final score of the night. The PAT failed but Outlaws pushed to a 41-22 advantage with 1:18 left in the game.

The Tigers didn’t quit. They quickly moved down the field to the one-yard line with 10 seconds left. Sisters heldt them off on three consecutive scoring attempts, and ended their drive with a quarterback sack by Sean Andrew Moffatt.

Sisters finished the night with 284 yards rushing, 171 yards passing, for a total of 455 yards of total offense.

Bronson was six-for-10 for 171 yards and three touchdowns. 

Cotner had three catches for 94 yards and two touchdown receptions, and also forced a fumble. Beckwith had one catch for 60 yards and a TD.

Spencer Davis had a great night on the ground and recorded 17 carries for 104 yards rushing. Mock had 10 carries for 61 yards and a TD, Beckwith five carries for 75 yards and a TD, and Eby nine carries for 44 yards and a TD.

Reid Woodson had a good night punting the ball and kicking the PATs, and Kale Gardner was great in coverage on special teams.

On defense Gardner finished with 11 tackles with four assists, Cotner recorded six tackles, and Garcia also had six with two assists.

Of his defense Thorson said, “Kale Gardner and Kolbi Cotner had great games from their safety positions, as did Hudson Beckwith from his corner position. Jozua Miller played well from his nose guard spot and Trent Gordon showed some promise from his new position at defensive end.”

Thorson added, “This was a great bounce-back win for our players after our disappointing opener at Burns (20-0 loss). We made a bunch of mistakes against a very good football team in that first contest, especially on offense, and that cost us the game.”

“This week we made some big strides in terms of assignments and executed at a much higher level,” stated Thorson. “We were able to establish our run game early on and that really opened things up for our passing game. The offensive line and tight ends made some big strides this week. Jozua Miller, Garrett Sager, Tabor Garcia, and Antonio Guzman all had solid games up front for us offensively.”

Thorson praised additional players for their performances:

“Bronson had one of his best nights in an Outlaw uniform throwing and directing the offense,” said Thorson.

“Davis had a great night running the ball and was one man away from taking a kick return back for a touchdown that was well blocked by the kick-return team. Beckwith and Cotner both showed how much of a threat they are every time they touch the ball as both a runner and receiver. And Mock had some nice runs from his new running-back position in the backfield.”

Sisters will travel to Elmira on Friday, September 20, for a match up against the Falcons.