Tygers cap emotional week with win over Norwalk

MANSFIELD — The Tygers won one for Shorty.

Brock Hill threw for a touchdown and ran for another and Mansfield Senior capped an emotional week with an 18-12 win over Norwalk in the season opener Friday at Arlin Field.

The Tygers (1-0) played with heavy hearts after the sudden death of James “Shorty” Gordon on Monday. Gordon was a fixture on the Senior High sideline for decades, his contributions to the program immeasurable. 

“Shorty was definitely with us tonight,” Mansfield Senior coach Chioke Bradley said while fighting back tears. “It was definitely a tough week — a tough week for me and a tough week for our coaches.”

A tribute for Gordon was held before kickoff as coaches and players from both teams took a knee and fans bowed their heads in a moment of silence. Bradley and several members of his staff wiped away tears as the tribute came to an end.

“It was great to feel his spirit all night long,” Bradley said. “He put his hands on us when we needed him the most. Shorty was definitely with us tonight and he willed us to victory.”

Mansfield Senior took advantage of three Norwalk fumbles in the first quarter to build a 15-0 lead. The Truckers fumbled on their opening possession with Senior High’s Leo Hess pouncing on the loose ball at the Norwalk 28. The Tygers couldn’t cash in on the short field, however, and had to punt the ball away.

On the very first play of the ensuing drive, Norwalk again fumbled and Keontez Bradley recovered at the Norwalk 23. Two plays later, Hill lofted a pass toward Myles Bradley in the end zone. The ball was tipped but Bradley hauled it in for a 22-yard touchdown and the Tygers led 7-0 with 6:27 remaining in the first quarter.

Norwalk fumbled again on its next possession and Mansfield Senior’s Ricky Mills recovered at the Truckers’ 21. An 8-yard completion to Mekhi Bradley set the Tygers up at the Norwalk 1 and Hill capped the abbreviated five-play, 21-yard drive with a 1-yard dive. A two-point conversion run by Mills gave Senior High a 15-0 lead with 3:40 to play in the first quarter.

“I think Shorty was looking down on us in that first quarter,” said Hill, who completed 15 of 26 passes for 132 yards and a touchdown and rushed for a team-high 35 yards and a score on 15 carries. “We had some help, that’s for sure.”

The Tygers pushed their advantage to 18-0 early in the second quarter on Sean Putt’s 35-yard field goal. That’s how things would stand at the half as Mansfield Senior’s stout defense limited Norwalk to 88 yards total offense in the first half.

“Defense played lights-out,” Bradley said. “Our defensive staff does a great job of preparing us and putting us in unbelievable positions to be successful. Then our guys sprinkle a little Tyger pride on it and they just go hard.”

Norwalk finally got its offense untracked in the second half. The Truckers scored on their opening possession of the third quarter after forcing a Senior High turnover on downs. Norwalk running back Andrew Olaniyan capped the 11-play, 61-yard march with a 4-yard run to slice the gap to 18-6 with 4:55 to play in the third.

The Truckers trimmed Mansfield Senior’s lead to 18-12 when quarterback Payne Flores scored on a 1-yard plunge with 9:17 remaining. 

Senior High was able to seal the victory when Hill, who doubles as the punter, pinned Norwalk on its own 1-yard line with a 47-yard boot at the 4:38 mark. The Truckers went three-and-out and the Tygers regained possession at their own 42 with 3:33 to play.

Mansfield Senior converted a critical third down when Hill rushed for seven yards on third-and-six, allowing the Tygers to run out the clock.

In addition to his rushing and passing contributions, Hill averaged 48.6 yards on five punts with a long of 61 yards.

“I grew up playing soccer,” Hill said. “I was always pretty good at it. I like punting but I hope we don’t have to do it very often. I’d like to score more.”

Amarr Davis led Mansfield Senior with six catches for 43 yards. Aveon Grose had five catches for 39 yards and added five tackles from his safety spot.

“This was an emotional week for us,” Grose said. “We dedicated this whole week to Shorty and we came out and got the win for him. It feels great.”

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