Tigers fall to Columbia, Bishop Kelly

The Mountain Home Tigers found the competition tough as they fell to the Columbia Wildcats on the road before they were dealt a shutout by the Bishop Kelly Knights as this year's football season continued this month.

Mountain Home 8, Columbia 22

The Tigers held onto a narrow two-point lead going into halftime and held that edge until Columbia ran in two touchdowns late in the fourth quarter for a 22-8 win Sept. 2.

Tigers quarterback Michael Campbell connected with Walker Harris on a 50-yard pass to put Mountain Home on the board at 11:46 in the second quarter. Campbell then completed a short pass to Chris Wright for the two-point conversion, to give the Tigers an 8-0 lead.

With 2:20 left in the half, Columbia completed a 13-yard pass for the touchdown. However, the point-after kick fell short, leaving the Wildcats trailing by two heading into the locker room at the end of the second quarter.

The third quarter remained a defensive battle with the end zone remaining elusive for both teams. However, the Wildcats came back with 4:47 left in the final quarter off a 48-yard run.

Once again, Columbia was unable to complete the two-point conversation but held a six-point lead against the Tigers.

The Wildcats put the game out of reach with 2:36 left in regulation play following a 54-yard run into the endzone. A third attempt at completing the two-point conversion failed once again with Columbia coming away with the win.

Columbia led the board with 368 yards of total offense off 56 plays compared to the Tigers, who finished the evening with 211 yards during 46 plays.

Campbell accounted for the team's 52 total yards on pass plays that evening with six completions. The Wildcats had better luck on pass plays, completing 15 of 24 plays for 150 total yards.

Mountain Home accumulated 159 yards on 35 rushing attempts compared to Columbia, which picked up 218 yards on 32 plays.

Wright led the Tigers on rushing with 83 total yards. Mitch Aguirre added 45 yards for Mountain Home on 11 attempts. Campbell had 22 yards of rushing while Sergio Figueroa racked up 13.

On defense, Kyler Profit was credited with six tackles, including four solo plays. Other Tigers with the most tackles that evening included Jonathan Kaiser with 4.5 and Wright, Jose Pedroza and Austin Tetrault, who each added four.

Turnovers cost the Tigers that evening with the team throwing two interceptions along with three fumbles. Columbia threw one interception with the team losing a yard off two fumbles.

Mountain Home 0, Bishop Kelly 52

Bishop Kelly dominated the field with a two touchdown salvo in the first quarter with the Knights adding 10 more points in the second as they shut out the Tigers at home on Friday.

The Knights posted their first seven points off a 17-yard run 8:36 in the first quarter. Bishop Kelly extended its lead to 14 off a 15-yard pass with Jackson Stingley making the point-after kick with 2:41 left.

Bishop Kelly completed another 27-yard pass to score its third touchdown at 11:01 in the second quarter with the point-after try giving the Knights a 21-0 lead. Another 56-yard pass and successful point-after kick gave Bishop Kelly its fourth touchdown before the team connected again on a 25-yard pass and point-after try to extend the lead to 35. With 59 second left in the first half, the Knights completed a 27-yard field goal to head into the locker room, 38-0.

Bishop Kelly switched to its ground attack to score off an 11-yard run with the extra-point try also successful. The Knights secured the win with 6:09 left in the third off a 19-yard pass with Stingley finishing the game with his eighth successful kick.

The Knights dominated the field with 359 yards of total offense from 40 plays while keeping the Tigers to just 19 yards off 29 plays. Bishop Kelly's rushing plays accounted for 178 total yards off 28 plays with Mountain Home limited to 19 yards during 29 plays.

Austin Tetrault led the Tigers on rushing plays with 20 yards off 11 attempts. Kyler Proffit added nine yards for Mountain Home off three attempts.

The Tigers take to the road later this week as they face Ridgevue at 7 p.m. Friday.