The Tenaha Tigers scored 28 points in the first quarter and the top ranked Tigers dominated the Wortham Bulldogs 69-8 on Friday night.
The Bulldogs return home with an 0-2 district record but are in the thick of the district race. They will face the Mount Enterprise Wildcats on Friday and finish with Grapeland and Overton. Three wins results in a third-place finish in the district and only two of the three will clinch post season berth for only the second time since 2000.
On the second play of the game, Tenaha quarterback C.J. Horn tossed a pass down the line of scrimmage to Trai Gardner and he sped through the defense on the 55-yard pitch and catch for the early lead 7-0.
A short punt set the Tigers in good field position and Onterio Thompson scored on 13 yard run to extend the lead to 14-0.
An early highlight gave the Bulldogs their only touchdown of the game. On third and 16 from the Bulldog 26, quarterback Kemontrell Jackson hit a wide open Braxton Whaley for the 74-yard scoring strike. Stephon Ester added the conversion and the Bulldogs cut into the lead 14-8.
Thompson added a 47-yard run and Horn connected on a 20-yard pass to Cody Foshee for the 28-8 lead after the first quarter.
Tenaha scored three more times in the second quarter. LaDarrius Garrett scored on a 25-yard run and Gardner got the special teams in the act with a 55-yard punt return. Horn connected with Gardner on a five-yard touchdown pass with one second left in the first half for a 48-8 halftime lead.
The second half featured a running clock and Horn added two more touchdown passes. Erik Smith caught a five-yard pass for a touchdown and Gardner added another on a 59-yard short pass and long run. Gustavo Tovar finished the night with a 67-yard run in the waning moments to set the final score.
The Wortham Bulldogs return home to face the Mount Enterprise Wildcats. It is the annual homecoming game and it will be a great event as usual for the City of Wortham. The game will be a pivotal game in the district. Wortham trails Mount Enterprise by a game in the district race. The Wildcats defeated the winless Overton Mustangs 39-35 and are 1-1 after an opening night forfeit to Tenaha.
