Last Friday, the Tigers celebrated their 2019 Homecoming as well as faced off against the Lake Ridge Eagles at Newsom Stadium. It was a chilly night, but that didn’t stop spectators from enjoying the celebration and cheering on the Tigers from the packed stands.

The Eagles took an early lead, scoring the first three touchdowns back to back. The Tigers’ defense struggled against the Eagles’ dominant offense, with the Eagles having intercepted touchdown passes in the first two quarters. The Tigers scored their first touchdown with 41 seconds left on the clock in the first half, leaving the score 21-7 Eagles by halftime.

During the third quarter, the Eagles scored another touchdown and were ahead by 20 points. With about four minutes to go in the third, the Tigers scored to make it 27-14. The fourth quarter, however, is when things picked up. The Eagles drive the length of the field and score to make it 34-14. The Tigers answer with another touchdown. After an interception by the Tigers, they scored again to make the score 34-28. The Tigers play great defense and gets the ball back with about 3 minutes to go in the game. On a critical fourth-down play, the Tigers came up with 12 yards to keep the drive going. On the following fourth-down play, number four senior Donerio Davenport goes off left tackle and scores on a 39-yard run to tie the game. The field goal attempt was successful by junior Ryan Smith and the Tigers took the lead with less than a minute left of regulation play. The Eagles started their last possession inside their five-yard line and made it out to the 25. Mansfield holds them until their last fourth-down play, which goes incomplete to their wide receiver, and the Tigers take the game, the crowd erupting in pride and excitement.