Tigers’ crown royalty, celebrate with win

The Daingerfield Tigers celebrated their homecoming on Friday by welcoming the Paul H. Pewitt Brahmas to town. After crowning this year’s royalty, Daingerfield celebrated in dramatic fashion, defeating the Brahmas, 31-28.

The Tigers started the evening announcing their homecoming court, and revealing who the student body elected as this year’s king and queen. After seniors Warren Wu and Camryn Byrd were crowned, it was time for the main event to begin.

Daingerfield won the toss, and chose to defer to the second half. After kicking off to the Brahmas, the Tigers went to work. The Brahmas went 25 yards on their first play, but managed little after that. After the Tigers took over, it seemed the evening would be filled with back and forth, three-and –out series for both teams. On Daingerfield’s second series, senior wide receiver Kieston Rushing broke free on a 58- yard touchdown run, putting the Tigers ahead, 6-0, following a missed extra point.

On the ensuing Brahma possession, Pewitt’s quarterback connected on a 30-yard touchdown pass, putting the Brahmas up by one following the extra point. Daingerfield answered with a touchdown pass of their own, as quarterback Reggie Jeter hit homecoming nominee Cedric Arthur for a 36-yard touchdown. This followed a 40-yard run by Rushing. Kicker Jose Bello connected on the extra point, making the score 13-7.

Pewitt scored on their next possession, making the score 13-14. Junior running back Chris Castleberry was the go-to player on the Tigers’ next series, having three rushes covering 46 yards, including the two-yard touchdown run. Missed extra points seemed to be the norm for Bello, as the score stayed 19- 14, going into halftime.

Pewitt made adjustments at halftime, and quickly capitalized on those adjustments to jump ahead, 19-28 in the third quarter. The Tigers would not give up, however, coming back in the fourth quarter to bring the score to 25-28 in Pewitt’s favor. The Tigers, set on sealing their homecoming night win, got the ball at their own 30- yard line and drove to the two yard line. The drive was helped by a 16-yard run by Jeter. The Tigers would eventually score with 1:30 left in the game, making the score 31-28. After the marching down the field with less than a minute left, a last – gasp pass went up towards the endzone for Pewitt. Rushing, who had already made several scores for the Tigers, sealed the Daingerfield win with an interception to thwart the Brahmas’ efforts.

The Tigers will prepare for their next district game, where they will travel to DeKalb for a matchup on Friday, Oct. 7. The Tigers will return home for a matchup with the Hooks Hornets on Oct. 14.