What was touted as one of the biggest games of the year turned into a laughter for the Tigers Friday as they were able to beat Albany 66-12 at halftime. The game lived up to its billing for a quarter, but then Worth County was able to take control of the game after that, flooring the Warriors in the second. The game was a revenge win for the Tigers, who fell to Albany on the same field last year. The Warriors came into the game this year undefeated, but they fell hard and now have to turn around and play North Andrew.
Both sides exchanged a three and out to start the first quarter, but then Landon Wilmes found some daylight to start Worth County's second series, which started at their own 32. He picked up nine to the Warrior 39 and then Lucas Frisch and Landon Wilmes followed the blocking of Ethan Lininger to the 28. Tyler New got a block from Grant McIntyre and found the edge to the 21, and the Lucas Frisch got four more to the 17, and then Tyler New threw a short pass to Bo Collins to the 6. He nearly fumbled the ball, as a light rain caused a slick ball, but he was ruled down before he fumbled it. Tyler New ran it in the next play, and ran in the extra points to make it 8-0.
But the big play bug hit the Tigers on Albany's next series as Chase Cline threw a short pass to Kyle Emerson and his catch and run went 51 yards to the house with 3:09 left in the first quarter. Landon Wilmes broke up a pass to preserve the Tiger lead at 8-6.
Albany had a golden opportunity to gain the lead after Seth Miller stripped Landon Wilmes and Albany got the ball on the Tiger 30. An incomplete pass was followed by an 11 yard run by Elliot Mercer to the 19. But Lucas Frisch blitzed and sacked Cline to the 29, Bo Collins batted down a pass at the line of scrimmage, a jet sweep to Trevor Akins went for four to the Tiger 25, and then Cline met Bo Collins at the 25 as the Tigers took over on downs.
This stand was the momentum changer that the Tigers needed, and they suddenly found daylight. Tyler New got blocks from Bo Collins and Lucas Frisch and took it 22 yards to the Albany 33. Tyler picked up eight more to the 25. Two false start penalties set the Tigers back to the 35, but a pass from Tyler New to Bo Collins gave them a first down to the 20. The Tigers were seemingly stalled at the 14 with a fourth and four, but an offsides penalty gave the Tigers new life and a first down at the 9. New hit Grant McIntyre for a strike and New ran in the extra points to make it 16-6 with one minute left in the first.
Albany was faced with fourth and three at their own 31. They tried to go for it, but a mixup led to a fumbled handoff and Worth County got the ball on downs at the Warrior 27. Worth County lined up in a spread formation that Albany hadn't seen; even after the Warriors took a timeout to set up their defense, it didn't matter as Tyler found daylight and took it to the house with 11:09 left in the second quarter to make it 22-6.
A late hit on Albany following the touchdown allowed Worth County to bury them on the 15. Elliot Mercer was dropped by Elias Alarcon and Bo Collins for a loss of one. A short pass to Trevor Akins picked up five to the 19. A reverse to Kyle Emerson was blown up by Bo Collins, and the Warriors were forced to punt.
Frustration set in for Albany, and another late hit put the ball on the Warrior 27 after the ensuing punt. Worth County was nearly stopped fourth and six at the Warrior 12, but then a draw play to New netted seven to the five. A holding penalty backed them up to the 15, but that only made things more interesting as Grant McIntyre caught a short pass, got a block from Elias Alarcon, and took it to the house with 8:14 left in the second. Landon Wilmes' catch and run made it 30-6.
Lucas Frisch and Sawyer Thurman dropped Emerson at the 11, and a fumbled handoff, a dropped pass, and a three yard run for Mercer forced a three and out. Tyler New outran the initial defender, got a whole wall of blocks, and took it to the house with 6:52 left in the half. Brayden Stevens' reverse made it 38-6.
The game continued to snowball as Carter Chapman recovered the ensuing onsides kick at the Warrior 39. It only took Worth County one play to score as Albany loaded the box and Tyler New threw it over the top to Grant McIntyre, who took it to the house to make it 44-6.
The big play bug hurt Worth County again as Elliot Mercer took a quick pitch, broke through a wall of tacklers, and took it all the way to the one before Lucas Frisch caught him at the one. Worth County made a stand, stopping Albany twice short of the goal line, but then Chase Cline's sneak put Albany on the board as they cut it to 44-12 with 4:36 left.
The Warriors tried to recover a squib kick, but Sawyer Thurman fell on it at the 31. Tyler New got a block from Ethan Lininger and took it 10 yards to the 39. Landon Wilmes got blocks from Lucas Frisch and Carter Chapman and took it to the house with 4:01 left. Grant McIntyre caught the extra point pass to make it 52-12.
Albany recovered the ensuing squib kick at the 28. Kolten Smith batted down a pass, Mercer ran into Bo Collins, Tyler New, and Kolten Smith, and then Lucas Frisch blitzed and batted down a pass to force a punt. Tyler New returned it to the Albany 39, and then Worth County faked the jet sweep and aired it out to Bo Collins for a score to make it 58-12.
With time running out, Albany dropped a screen pass that would have given them a first down, and they were forced to punt. Two plays later, Tyler New aired it out to Lucas Frisch for 54 yards; Frisch is more known for his power and ability to get the tough yards, but he broke out some speed as he outran everyone with 46 seconds left. Worth County had a holding penalty on the extra point play, but that only made things more interesting as Tyler New threw a strike to Grant McIntyre for the final score.
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