PIGEON FORGE — The Pigeon Forge Tigers fell to the Cherokee Chiefs 34-13 in the season home opener on Friday, Aug. 22.
“I think our guys kept playing the whole time. We made some real mental mistakes, which is what happens in the first game,” said Coach Heath Woods. “When you play a bigger team than you and make mental mistakes, they’ll capitalize on it, and I think that is what took place.”
“We just have to get better from game one to game two.”
Woods said the 4A Chiefs benefitted from a larger roster, and that fatigue played a role for his 3A squad.
“They don’t have to play two ways, so their kids weren’t going through what we were going through, cramping up,” Woods said.
Neither team got much going offensively in the first quarter, with the Chiefs getting on the board first with a touchdown near the start of the second quarter. The extra point was good, putting the Chiefs ahead 7-0 with a little over 11 minutes left in the half.
The Tigers’ offense, led by Ayden Hood, responded in a big way on the kick return with Andrew Lewis making the catch and handing it off to Hood, who returned the kick for an 84-yard touchdown.
“(Hood) played hard all night,” Woods said.
The Tigers appeared to make good on the two-point conversion, but the referees disagreed, leaving the score 7-6 in favor of the Chiefs.
Cherokee would go on to get on the board again in the second, making the score 12-6. Their own extra point was no good, making the score 13-6 with a little over 10 minutes left before halftime.
Cherokee would score again on a punt return in the second quarter, making the extra point to put them ahead 20-6.
Hood made another massive return, bobbling the punt but recovering it around the 5 yard line and returning it to the Chiefs’ 45. They were not able to capitalize on the play, however, and Cherokee was able to hold off the Tigers into halftime.
Cherokee started the offensive action off again in the third quarter with a 40-yard carry for a touchdown. The extra point was good, making the score 27-6 Cherokee.
The Tigers would respond with a screen pass from quarterback McCoy Smith to Ayden Hood with 7:53 left in the third, making the score 27-12. The extra point by Jackson Vasquez was good to see the Tigers edge closer, 27-13.
The Chiefs sealed the deal, however, with a touchdown with 4:57 left in the third. Both teams got personal fouls, offsetting their penalties.
The extra point was good, giving the Chiefs a 34-13 lead, which is where the score remained.
Woods also credited Max Cable on defense for the Tigers’ efforts. He had eight tackles for the night.
The Tigers next travel to Seymour to take on the Eagles this Thursday, Aug. 28. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.