Turnovers haunt Tigers in loss to Hawkins
Linden-Kildare’s football team traveled to Hawkins last Friday night to take on the Hawks in its first district contest.
The game prior L-K committed five turnovers in a loss to James Bowie.
This past Friday the Tigers turns the ball over six times in a 44-20 loss to Hawkins.
Hawkins did have a strong run game but turnovers in the redzone hurt the Tigers as they were marching towards scoring.
The Tigers were also playing shorthanded with injuries to both Rollie Patterson and Bug Patterson.
First Quarter
Hawkins received the ball to begin the game and promptly drove 74 yards in 11 plays for the first score of the night.
The 2-point play was good and Hawkins was up 8-0 with 6:48 left in the first frame.
L-K began its first drive of the game with the ball sitting directly on the 50-yard line.
From there quarterback Jonathan Owen bolted 11 yards into Hawk territory followed by a 14-yard scamper by Jay Birmingham.
Tae’shun Mitchell took the next handoff for four yards before Owen connected with tight end Jackson Lee on a 21-yard touchdown pass.
The 2-point play was no good but L-K was within two at 8-6 with 5:12 left in the first quarter.
L-K’s defense stuffed Hawkins’ strong run game on its next drive and forced the Hawks to punt the ball away.
Unfortunately the Tigers couldn’t secure the ball on the play and Hawkins recovered the ball on the turnover at the L-K 7-yard line.
It only took one play and the Hawks added to its point total with a TD.
The 2-point play was good and the score read 16-6 with 2:32 left in the first quarter.
L-K’s next drive started off well as Birmingham picked up 23 yards on two carries, and Mitchell added three tough yards as the quarter ended.
Second Quarter
L-K opened the second stanza with an interception and Hawkins began its first drive of the second quarter from its own 34. Big tackles by Ja’corey Birmingham and Jakyric
Big tackles by Ja’corey Birmingham and Jakyric Nard on the drive helped put Hawkins on its hells, but the Hawks eventually scored at the 6:53 mark.
On the drive L-K thought they came away with a fumble recovery but the call was overturned.
The 2-point play failed but Hawkins was up 22-6.
L-K answered on its next drive in just one play.
Working from the 31, Birmingham bolted 69 yards for a touchdown to cut into the Hawks’ lead.
The 2-point play was no good but the score read 22-12 with 6:30 left in the first half.
Hawkins scored on its next drive and after the successful 2-point play the Hawks were up 30-12 with 2:24 left in the second quarter.
On the kickoff return Nard found a crease from the 5-yard line and picked up 42 yards on the play.
Birmingham took the Tigers into Hawk country with a 13-yard pickup and then caught a pass from Owen for eight yards. Birmingham posted a 7-yard run and Nard had
Birmingham posted a 7-yard run and Nard had a 5-yard gain on a reverse to set the Tigers up at the Hawks’ 30. With time running out the Tigers fumbled
With time running out the Tigers fumbled the ball away to the Hawks. Time expired as the Hawks tried to scoop and score on the turnover.
Third Quarter
The Tigers received the kickoff to begin the second half of play. Working from the 40, Mitchell picked up four
Working from the 40, Mitchell picked up four yards followed by Birmingham who gained 13.
Owen picked up another 13 before Maliki Castleberry picked up 11 of his own.
L-K was knocking at the door from the 20-yard line when they turned the ball over on another fumble.
Hawkins scored in just two plays with the latter being a 71-yard touchdown jaunt.
The 2-point play was good and the Hawks increased its lead to 38-12 with 7:24 left in the third frame.
L-K began its next drive in Hawks’ territory from the 44.
From there Birmingham picked up 18 yards on the ground, Ja’corey Birmingham added seven yards and Owen five.
Also on the drive Owen hit Nard for six yards and Birmingham for five on two nice passes.
The pass from Owen to Birmingham on the drive was on fourth down and with new life the Tigers had first-and-10 form the 15.
Two plays later the Tigers lost another fumble.
The quarter ended with Hawkins moving the ball from the 29-yard line to the 37.
Fourth Quarter
Hawkins was moving the ball again when L-K forced a fumble and recovered the loose ball.
L-K’s next drive was all on the ground as Mitchell picked up 11 yards rushing, Birmingham 32 and Owen nine.
The 54-yard drive was capped off with a 2-yard TD by Mitchell with five minutes left in the game.
Birmingham ran in the 2-point conversion and L-K cut the lead to 38-20.
Hawkins scored again but failed on the 2-point play to set the score at 44-20.
The Tigers fumbled the ball away on its next drive and Hawkins kneeled on the ball to end the contest.
Jay Birmingham ended the night with 182 yards rushing and a touchdown, Owen added 34 yards rushing and 48 passing yards with a TD, Mitchell posted 33 yards with a TD and Lee had 25 yards receiving with a TD.
Defensively Mitchell had nine tackles and Lee recorded nine tackles and a sack. The Tigers host Union Grove this Thursday night with kickoff set for 7 p.m.
This game is featured as the KYKX Game of the Week.