Tigers fall to Kuna 48-14

Wednesday, October 8, 2003

The scouting report on the Kuna Kavemen indicated they were capable of scoring quickly and getting their opponents in a hole early.

That was certainly the case Friday night when the Mountain Home Tigers opened their SIC 4A conference schedule at Kuna, as just 30 seconds into the game the Kavemen were on the score board, and 86 seconds into the game, they were up 14-0.

Mountain Home was playing catch-up the rest of the night -- unsuccessfully.

The Tigers kicked off to Kuna, and Mountain Home kicker Stephen Reinschmidt booted the ball into the end zone, so the Kavemen started on their 20.

After a Brady Phillips pass to Reece Noble -- a deadly combination for the Tigers all night long -- put the ball on the Kuna 39, Steven Marsala ran through the Tiger defense for 61 yards and a score. Ben Fisher's PAT made it 7-0 Kuna just 30 seconds into the game.

Before Tiger fans could catch their breath, things got worse. Mountain Home started their first drive on their own 39-yard line, and on the second play, a fumble was recovered by Ben Fisher, and the Kavemen were back in business at the Mountain Home 39. They wasted little time in scoring, Brady Phillips connecting with Reece Noble on a 39-yard strike.

Fisher's PAT put the Kavemen up 14-0, with 10:34 left in the first quarter.

The Tigers were unable to move the ball with any success on their next two possessions, but defensively they were able to keep Kuna out of the end zone as well, until Brady Phillips connected with Reece Noble again, and the speedster raced down the sidelines 75 yards for a Kaveman score.

Ben Fisher's PAT made it 21-0, which is how the first quarter ended.

Mountain Home continued to struggle offensively, with penalties -- they were flagged 11 times for 100 yards on the night, many in crucial situations -- hindering drives.

After stopping Kuna defensively and forcing a punt, the Tigers fumbled the return, and Kuna recovered on the Mountain Home 43. Five plays later, the Kavemen were in the end zone again, as Nick Harris ran it in from nine yards out. The PAT was short, but the Kavemen led 27-0 with just under 10 minutes left in the first half.

Mountain Home managed to move the ball down into Kuna territory on its next possession, but the drive stopped when a Brock Zamora pass went off his receiver's hands into Lance Jenkins' hands, and the Kavemen had the ball back on their own 38. Four plays and 62-yards later, Kuna was back on the scoreboard, Brady Phillips and Reece Noble connecting up again, this time for a 27-yard score.

Ben Fisher's PAT made it 34-0 with 6:24 left in the half.

The Tigers then scored quickly, going 63 yards in two plays, Billy O'Brien breaking one for 57 yards and a score. Stephen Reinschmidt's PAT made it 34-7, Kuna, with 5:26 left in the first half.

The Kavemen then showed they were not one dimensional, going on a 10-play, 75-yard, five-minute drive, with Brady Phillips connecting with Oren Whiting from 23 yards out. With Fisher's PAT, it was 41-7 Kuna, heading into the locker room at halftime.

Each team scored just once in the second half, both in the fourth quarter. Kuna recovered a fumble on the Mountain Home 15 and took it in for the score in four plays, Nick Harris taking it the final two yards. Ben Fisher's PAT made it 48-7 with 10:19 left.

Mountain Home's other score was again by Billy O'Brien, who capped off a six-play, 55-yard drive from three yards out. Stephen Reinschmidt's PAT made it 48-14, with 2:34 left, and neither team scored after that.

Mountain Home Tiger head football coach Tony Kerfoot made no excuses for his team's long night at Kuna. "Kuna was an experienced ball club and undefeated at the time, and they came out ready to go, and we didn't, so we kind of dug ourselves a real deep hole the first half.

"I think Kuna kind of showed they're in a little class above us. I don't think there's anything we can do about that but try to learn from it and go on and get better from it."

Mountain Home, behind Billy O'Brien's 186 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries, rushed for 302 yards. Matt Maurer had nine rushes for 50 yards, Brock Zamora had nine rushes for 19 yards, Keith Yagues carried six times for 33 yards, and Anthony Pomerlee rushed three times for 14 yards.

Mountain Home only completed two of eight passes for 24 yards. Brock Zamora was two for seven, for 24 yards. Keith Yagues threw one incomplete pass. Anthony Pomerlee had one catch for 18 yards, and Shawn Morin had one catch for six yards.

Kuna, behind Steven Marsala's 127 yards on 16 carries, rushed for 198 yards, and passed for 241.

Defensively, Kole Spaulding led the Tigers, getting in on 20 tackles, including four solos.

Tyson Sessions was in on 16 tackles, including five solos. Matt Maurer had 15 tackles, including three solos, and Caom Hansen had 10 tackles.

After four straight games on the road, the Tigers will celebrate Homecoming Friday night at Tiger Field against the Emmett Huskies. Coach Kerfoot hopes his Tigers can regroup and get back in the win column against Emmett.

Friday night's Homecoming game kickoff is set for 7 p.m. with the crowning of the Homecoming Queen at halftime.

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