Tigers lose heartbreaker to Post, head to bye week

By Nolan Alexander

Slatonite Intern

The Slaton Tigers took on the Post Antelopes on Friday (Sept. 24), losing 19-25 in a loss that was measured in a game of inches.

The first quarter was a back and forth between the teams with Post coming out with a 30-yard passing touchdown and with an unsuccessful point after attempt.

Post again drove the length of the field and ended their drive with a one-yard rushing touchdown. Post attempted a two-point conversion, but was unsuccessful.

Slaton again was given the ball,  making  a drive and capitalize with a 13-yard rushing touchdown by D’Marcus Trotty.  The extra point missed.

In the next set of plays, Post throwing an interception to Trotty and returned 59-yards for a touchdown. The two-point attempt to gain the lead was unsuccessful making the score tied at 12-12 end of first.

The second quarter was a defensive battle between both teams resulting in a scoreless quarter.

The third quarter opened up with a long Post drive, ending with a eight-yard rushing touchdown with a successful point after attempt.

The Antelopes again capitalized on another drive, this one ending at the goal line.

It was a one-yard rushing touchdown and their kicker once again missed the point after attempt. The third quarter leaving the score 25-12 Post at the end of the third.

The fourth quarter was all Slaton, starting out with a 15-yard passing touchdown from Eli Perez to Trotty. Diego Maldonado was able to successfully make his point after attempt, making the score 19-25.

The Tiger defense stood up in the fourth quarter and allowed the Antelopes zero points, giving Slaton the last drive.  The Tigers were able to drive all the way down the field to the one-yard line. Coach Lawrence Johnson called his final play, but it was ruled short of the goal line.

The final was 19-25 with the Slaton Tigers falling short of the victory by less than one yard.

Johnson said his number one takeway from not only this game, but from the whole preseason is the growth his team has made.

“Our kids are a different team from week one,” he said. “A better version of us will be ready for Kermit in two weeks.”

The Slaton Tigers had more total yards than the Antelopes with 262 yards compared to 227 yards.  Coach Johnson said he wanted his team’s offense to be more versatile against Post. “We wanted a more balanced run/pass attack since they would be loading up the box with a lot of pressure,” he said.

The Tigers have a bye Friday (Oct. 2) but  Johnson just sees this week as another opportunity to grow and learn as a football team, especially after the loss. “We played hard and had some opportunities to win the game,” he said.

Leading rushers for the Tigers were Xzavion Whaley with six rushes for 30 yards, D’Marcus Trotty with two rushes for 14 yards, CJ Anzley with nine rushes for three yards and Ayden Ramirez with one rush for one yard.

Quarterbacks Eli Perez and Ayden Ramirez combined for 216 yards and one interception at 43 percent completion rate.

Leading receivers for the Tigers were D’Marcus Trotty with four catches for 70 yards and three touchdowns, CJ Anzley with one catch for 61 yards, Damien Tagle with one catch for 36 yards, Eli Perez with three catches for 31 yards, Ayden Ramirez with two catches for 11 yards, Jaden Gwin with one catch for five yards and Tomas Geronimo with one catch for two yards.

The Tigers are back in action Oct. 8 to open District play in a away game versus Kermit.