Ringgold wins 40-34 in overtime
Friday may have been National Dog Day, but it was the Night of the Tigers featuring Cole Kibler in the Blueand-White's 40-34 overtime win over Heritage in his second start.
The sophomore quarterback threw one touchdown pass and ran for three scores - including the game-winner in OT - to finish the night with 216 yards in passing.
Ringgold head coach Robert Akins said it was a good night indeed for Kibler and the Tigers, who extended their streak to 9-0 over their county rivals while earning the program's first win of the 2016 season.
"The kids played hard," he said. "Their kids played hard, and our kids played hard... it's just the kind of high school football you want to see."
Akins said his team had "a lot of ups and
downs," but they were hoping for a turnover in the end.
On the flip side, Heritage head coach E.K. Slaughter said the Generals were expecting anything but another loss to Ringgold after suffering four turnouts.
"It's a great atmosphere, great game and our kids fought hard," he said. "They did everything we asked them to do, but we only punted twice. When you turn the ball over, and one is for a touchdown, it's just inexcusable."
Slaughter said his team would have to "rebound from the loss."
"We wanted to make history, and beat them, but we're also going to make history this season by making the playoffs...we just have to get over this."
The Tigers took a 20-0 lead in the first quarter, highlighted by a 94 yard fumble return by Michael Layman to open the game, before the Generals cut the score to 26-21 just before the half on a 30 yard pass from Corbee Wilson to Jacob Carter.
Heritage continued its momentum into the second half, going ahead 27-26 on Wilson's 13 yard pass to Grant. The Red-and-White would also lead 3426 on a 4 yard run by Wilson with 5:51 to play in regulation.
However, Kibler went into survival mode as the Tigers marched 77-yards highlighted by two first-down passes of 23 and 13 yards to Mac Brower and Andrew Tarver. Kibler scored from the 1 and threw to Brower for the 2 pt conversion for the tie with 3:04 to play.
In overtime, the Tigers would get a break when Brett Halloran got his second fumble recovery of the night at the 10-yard line off the hands of Wilson to set up the game-winning score.
Ty Jones ran it to the 6 and Kibler scored from the nine for the win.
Other first-quarter scores included Kibler's 20 yard pass to Drake Starks (Jones from 20 yards 2 pt conversion), 4:30, and a 3 yard run by Kibler (kick failed), 2:10.
Heritage's secondquarter rally was ignited by a 16 yard strike from Wilson to Grant (Alex Ahlyege kick) at the 11:53 mark.
Dee King, who finished the evening with 149 yards rushing on 10 carries, put on his running shoes for a 27 yard touchdown to extend the Tigers' lead to 26-7.
The Generals would score two more times before the half including a 1 yard run by Wilson (Ahlyege kick) and a 30 yard pass from Wilson to Carter (Ahlyege kick), 2:36.