While Mansfield Senior and Lima Senior meet annually on the hardwood, it has been nearly 57 years since they have met on the gridiron. Before Friday, the teams had last met on October 12, 1956 when the Tygers beat the Spartans 14-7.
On September 6, 2013 the point total wasn’t as low. The two teams combined for 101 points as the Tygers picked up their second win of the season with a 52-49 victory.
Mansfield got on the board first with a 26 yard interception return by Chek Washington on Lima Senior’s fourth play of the game. The lead wouldn’t last long, as the Spartans took the ensuing kickoff 80 yards to the Tygers 14 yard line. Two plays later, Spartans quarterback Justice Graham connected with wide receiver Cory Jackson for a 12 yard touchdown reception with 10:04 left in the first quarter.
The Tygers would score twice more and take a 21-7 lead into the first intermission, as Washington (40 yards) and Mitch Nixon (13 yards) each caught touchdown passes from QB Jalen Reese.
With 11:41 to go in the half, Lima Senior’s Demontay Liles would cut the lead down to 21-14 on a 12 yard run. That would be the closest the Spartans would get the rest of the night. Mansfield would hold a 42-21 edge at halftime and continue the attack to end the third quarter with a 52-28 advantage.
The Tygers won almost every statistical category including: first downs with 30-15, rushing with 151 yards to 66 yards, passing with 346 yards to Lima’s 148 yards, sacks by a margin of 11-0, and, unfortunately, the Tygers led in penalties with 17/164 to Lima’s 15/122.
Reese finished the game with six touchdowns and 346 yards while completing 23-31 attempts and only one interception. Leading receivers for the Tygers were Washington, 7 rec 123 yds 2 touchdown, and Asante’ Wilder, 5 receptions and 91 yards for 1 touchdown. Tyquan Vickers added 14 carries, 78 yards, and a touchdown. Malon Samuel carried the ball 11 times for 63 yards to lead the ground attack.
On defense, Antonio Sanderfer piled up 11 tackles and 4 sacks and Trevante’ Macklin pulled down 9 tackles and 3 sacks to spearhead the Tygers defense . The Tygers squad held the Spartans to 204 total yards.
Next Friday, Mansfield Senior travels to former Ohio Heartland Conference foe Marion Harding. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m.
