Tigers continue win streak with 43-14 rout of Vikings

The Mountain Home Tigers scored three touchdowns in the third quarter to pull away from the Middleton Vikings for a 43-14 conference football win Friday night at Tiger Field.

The Tigers tried to put Middleton away in the first half, but the Vikings kept coming back.

After Middleton's opening drive stalled on their own 45, the Tigers took over from there and went the 46 yards in five plays, Tyson Sessions taking it in from three yards out. Robert Daniels ran in the two-point conversion to make it 8-0, Mountain Home, with 5:12 left in the opening quarter.

A fumble recovery by Middleton sparked a scoring drive for the Vikings, as they went 76 yards in eight plays, Eric Foreman taking it in from two yards out. The two-point conversion run failed, and Mountain Home led, 8-6, with 10:07 left before halftime.

Zacq Hale ran the ensuing kickoff back 67 yards to the Viking 28, and six plays later, Hale went the final yard for the score to make it 14-6, with 7:07 left in the half.

The Tigers mounted a 65-yard five-play drive their next possession, Jake Posey connecting with Nick Barrie on a 35-yard touchdown pass. Posey passed to Brandon Doble for the two-point conversion to make it 22-6, with 4:27 left in the half.

On Middleton's next possession, quarterback Tent Harrison connected with Tim Kube on a 45-yard pass to the Mountain Home one-yard line, where it was first and goal. It took Eric Foreman four times to get in, but on the fourth try he did for the score. A pass play added two more, and it was 22-14, Tigers, at halftime.

The Tigers received the ball to start the third quarter and moved the ball 57 yards on seven plays, Jake Posey taking it the final one yard. Kyle Clark's PAT made it 29-14, Tigers, with 8:38 left in the third quarter.

Robert Daniels capped off the Tigers next drive, a 74-yard drive, taking it the final five yards for the score. Josh Lindsay's PAT made it 36-14 with 3:03 left in the third quarter.

After Middleton went three-and-out their next possession, the Tigers got the ball back in Viking territory, at the Middleton 37.

Five plays later, Matt Ward took it in from the six. With Josh Lindsay's PAT, it was 43-14, with a little over a second left in the third quarter.

A Zacq Hale pass interception stalled the Vikings' next drive at the Mountain Home six-yard line. The Tiger starters went one more series before the JV players finished out the game, a 43-14 Mountain Home win.

"That was probably one of the best third quarters or second halves of football we've had," said Tiger head football coach Brian Floyd. "I was very impressed with the kids. We came out the second half and really established what we wanted to do, and kind of took control of the game. It was a nice win for the kids on Senior Night."

Six different Tigers scored touchdowns, led by Robert Daniels who rushed for 127 yards and a score on 13 carries. Zacq Hale had 58 yards and a score on 11 rushes, Tyson Sessions rushed seven times for 38 yards and a score, Tallen Pauley carried eight times for 34 yards, Matt Ward had four rushes for 17 yards and a score, Jake Posey carried four times for 13 yards and a score, and Kyle Kerfoot carried twice for six yards.

Jake Posey completed five of eight passes for 132 yards and a score. Nick Barrie caught two passes for 69 yards and a score, Robert Daniels caught one pass for 31 yards, Brandon Doble caught one for 18, and Zacq Hale had a 14-yard catch.

Middleton managed 145 yards on the ground, and passed for 142 yards.

Defensively, Tyson Sessions again led the Tigers in tackles with 16. Robert Daniels had eight tackles and a pass deflection. Matt Ward and Robert Moss both had six tackles, and Josh Driskell and Chris Knudson each had four. Cal Vivier had three, Israel McGrew, Reggie High and Kyle Clark had two tackles, and Corey McGuire, Nick O'Briant and Zacq Hale each had one, while Hale had an interception.

The win improved the Tigers to 5-2 on the season, and 4-1 in league play. Mountain Home travels to Columbia High School in Nampa Friday night to take on the Wildcats.

"They're actually a tough defensive team," said Coach Floyd of the Wildcats. "They fly around and do a good job that way. It's going to be a big game for them, too, it's their Homecoming, and they're going to want to come out and knock us off. Coach (Todd) Cady's going to have his kids ready to go, so we're just going to have to buckle down and get this win. It's a big win for us if we can get it."

The game kicks off at 7 p.m. Friday night at Columbia High School.