In a game filled with penalties and mistakes by both teams, Tilghman moved its all-time record against Lone Oak to 27-0 Saturday night with a 28-12 victory over the Flash.
Tilghman never trailed in the game. On their first possession, they marched the football down the field and an 85-yard drive was capped off by Tyler Scarbrough’s touchdown run to put the Tornado up 7-0 with 7:40 left to play in the first quarter.
Minutes later, Darrius Spivey-Nunn intercepted Cole Ousley’s pass and returned it 62 yards for a touchdown to put Tilghman up 14-0 with 5:51 left to play in the first quarter.
A fumble by Lone Oak’s Djuan Sherrill was recovered by Tilghman at Lone Oak’s 31-yard line early in the second quarter. Two plays later, Tornado quarterback Jordan Tyler found Travon Jones in the end zone on a 28-yard pass. Tilghman went for two and failed but still led 20-0 with 9:29 left in the first half.
That score would hold up until late in the second quarter when a blocked punt set up Lone Oak’s first score. Quarterback Cole Ousley then found Morgan Alexander on a 10-yard touchdown pass. The extra point failed and the Purple Flash trailed 20-6 at the half.
Lone Oak would narrow the gap midway through the third quarter when Ousley connected with Rasheed Jones on a 15-yard touchdown pass. The extra point failed and Lone Oak trailed 20-12.
That was as close as Lone Oak would get. Ousley suffered a shoulder injury late in the third quarter and was replaced by freshman quarterback Zyaire Hughes. Hughes was picked off by Spivey Nunn, who returned it to the Lone Oak 24-yard line.
Unsportsmanlike penalties against Lone Oak resulted in Tilghman having the ball 1st and goal from the 4-yard line. Two plays later, Tyler scored on a quarterback keeper from the 1-yard line. The extra point was blocked, but with 9:13 left in the game, Tilghman led 26-12.
Any hopes for a Lone Oak comeback were dashed when Hughes was sacked in his own end zone for a safety with 6:52 left to play, giving Tilghman the final margin of victory.
Saturday night’s game was the final meeting between the two schools since Lone Oak will become part of the newly formed McCracken County High School next season.
