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THS comes up short in 4A title game
In the game, which was played in brutally cold temperatures at Birmingham’s Legion Field the Tigers dominated almost every phase of the game except the one that counts the most, the final score. Unfortunately it was the Guntersville Wildcats that had the one point advantage in that category when all was said and done. Things looked favorable for the Tigers early as they won the pre-game coin toss and elected to defer to the second half. With that decision by the Tigers, Guntersville elected to receive the ball first and returned the opening kickoff to their 32 yard line. From there they were stuffed by the Thomasville defense on three plays and forced to punt. The punt traveled 31 yards to the Thomasville 48 where Tysean Thompson took it in and returned it five yards to the Guntersville 47.
Following the ensuing kickoff which was returned by the Wildcats to their 33 yard line, the Guntersville offense picked up one first down and then stalled out at the Thomasville 47 where they were forced to punt again. This time the punt traveled deep into Thomasville territory and was downed at the Tiger one yard line. Beginning there the Tiger offense moved the ball out of the shadow of their goal line to the 27 where they punted the ball back to the Wildcats. The punt traveled 41 yards to the Guntersville 32 but was returned to the Thomasville 47 giving Guntersville excellent field position.
Thomasville’s next offensive possession looked promising with the Tigers steadily moving the ball from their 20 to the Wildcat 44 before a holding penalty and a quarterback sack forced the Tigers into punt formation at their 36 yard line. Jake Overstreet’s punt carried 27 yards to the Guntersville 37. At that point with second quarter moving just past the halfway point the Thomasville defense stiffened, stopping the Wildcat offense on three downs and forcing another punt. This punt carried to the Thomasville 29 where the Tigers set up shop with 5:23 remaining in the second quarter, it took the explosive Thomasville offense only two plays and :19 to grab the lead back when Alex Buford rambled 36 yards to the Wildcat 35 on the first play from scrimmage and James White bolted 35 yards up the gut for his second touchdown of the game on the second. Aguiar nailed the extra-point and Thomasville was on top 14-7 with 5:04 remaining in the second period.
That’s the way the first half would end as neither team could get anything else going before intermission. As requested, Thomasville got the ball to begin the second half and after a 35 yard return of the opening kickoff by Jake Overstreet, set up to begin their first possession of the half at their 39 yard line. Things went bad for the Tigers immediately when on first down a holding penalty negated a six-yard gain and then a fumble on second down gave the Wildcats the ball at the Thomasville 36.
Fighting back, the Thomasville offense took over at their 38 yard line following the kickoff and proceeded to drive 62 yards in 10 plays to even the score. Alex Buford culminated the drive with a threeyard plunge for the touchdown. Aguiar’s extra-point was on target and the score stood at 21-21 with 5:45 remaining in the third quarter. Thomasville’s defense held the Wildcats to another three and out on their next series and took over at their 31 following a Guntersville punt. From there the Tiger offense launched a seven-play 69-yard drive to take the lead again. Jake Overstreet finished the drive with a 21 yard run for a touchdown with 1:51 remaining in the third quarter. Aguiar’s extra-point attempt fell short leaving Thomasville with a 27-21 lead. Neither team could sustain a drive on their next possession as the game clock rolled into the fourth quarter. At the end of Thomasville’s possession the Tigers came up a yard short of the first down at their 38 and were forced to punt the ball to the Wildcats where it was blown dead at the Guntersville 20 yard line with 7:37 to play in the game. Striking quick, the Wildcats completed a 56-yard pass to the Thomasville 24-yard line on first down. From there it took them four plays to get it in, scoring on a two yard run. The extra-point attempt was good and the Wildcats led 28-27 with 5:50 remaining in the game. Thomasville got a break on the ensuing kickoff when a line drive kick was knocked down and recovered at the Thomasville 45 yard line by Justin Gilchrist, giving the Tigers good field position for another attempt at regaining the lead. Although the Tigers moved to the Wildcat 16 on back to back running plays, the drive stalled out at the 15 where the Tigers lined up for a 33 yard field goal that would have given them the lead back. Aguiar’s kick was short giving the ball back to Guntersville at the 20 with 2:45 to play in the game. The Thomasville defense selling out to the run held the Wildcat offense to five yards in three plays forcing a punt that carried to the Guntersville 40 giving the Tiger offense one more chance to win the game with 1:11 to play. Despite moving into position for one last pass to the end zone, the Tigers valiant effort at a late come from behind win ended with a pass interception at the Wildcat four sealing the one point win for Guntersville. Leading the offensive charge for the Tigers in the losing effort was Sophomore Alex Buford with 151 yards and one touchdown on 19 carries. Senior Jake Overstreet followed him with 132 yards and one touchdown on 17 carries while Junior Delvonte Harris had 96 yards on 18 carries and Sophomore James White had 73 yards and two touchdowns on six carries. In the air Jake Overstreet was 1 for 5 for three yards and had one interception. Junior Kenny Sanders had the only catch for the Tigers for three yards. On defense Junior Katrell Watters led the Tigers with 13 tackles followed by Juniors Shed Simmons and Jarrell Watters with seven each. Senior Justin Smith was next with six while Jake Overstreet had four and Junior Brady Sullivan had three. Shed Simmons and Justin Smith were credited with pass break-ups and James White had a sack. Even though the players, coaches and all of us who proudly call ourselves Thomasville Tiger fans will continue to suffer for some time, the pain and disappointment that comes with a loss like that in a State Championship Game, we will be able to look back on this magical season at some point with a great deal of pride for what the Tigers accomplished beginning with the fall jamboree, continuing through the 10 weeks of the regular season and throughout the five weeks of the state playoffs. With the loss Thomasville’s final record ended at 13-2 giving this team the distinction of having the second highest single season win total in Thomasville Tiger history, second only to the 1988 Championship team’s 14-1 record. The 13 wins coupled with 10 win seasons in 2003 and 2004 and an 11 win season in 2005 also gives this senior class; comprised of Jeremy Borden, Preston Brooks, Justin Gilchrist, Jake Overstreet, Andrew Parten, Richard Ruck, Mark Simon, Justin Smith and Nick Smith; the highest four year win total of any class in Thomasville football history with 44. To you seniors who have worn a Thomasville Tiger football uniform for the last time we simply say thanks for your efforts and leadership. The memories you have helped to create will last for a lifetime. To all those players who will be returning for another season next fall and all of those who will be coming out to join this group of Tigers this coming year, be mindful that the trip to the finals this season has raised the bar of success for you and your memory of coming up short this year should be a motivator for you.
For you coaches whose year round hard work and dedication to these young athletes often seems to be unappreciated, please know that we are all very thankful for what you do and have done this season. Also please know we are also completely confident that another trip to the big stage is in the Tigers’ future.
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