Balanced Tigers

The Smith-Cotton Tigers football team had everything working Friday night.

They dominated both sides of the line as they picked up their second straight shutout with a 55-0 win over the Marshall Owls.

Smith-Cotton’s defense stuffed the Marshall running game, controlling Matt Jacobs and forcing nine punts. Those punts gave the Tigers excellent field position that led to many short scoring drives.

Smith-Cotton coach Mark Johnson credited his defensive coaching staff for its work this season.

“I think they’re doing a great job,” Johnson said. “... Those guys are really doing a great job defensively and it’s starting to show on Friday nights.”

After Smith-Cotton’s first possession ended with an interception, the Tigers’ defense took over. The Tigers pushed Marshall back 5 yards on three plays and forced a punt.

The Tigers cashed in the good field position with a short drive that concluded on a 22-yard scoring run by Solomon Watkins to make it 7-0. Watkins finished with 17 carries for 188 yards and three touchdowns.

Smith-Cotton increased the lead to 14-0 on its next possession, going 50 yards on five plays.

Jordan Brown banged in from the 1-yard line for the touchdown, and Jessica Greer added the extra point, one of six on the night.

Marshall (0-3) put together its best drive at the end of the first quarter and beginning of the second, but the Smith-Cotton defense stiffened and forced the Owls to turn the ball over on downs at the Tigers’ 26.

Seven plays later, the Tigers were in the end zone again, this time on an 11-yard scoring run by Watkins to make it 21-0.

Watkins got his final touchdown of the night the next time the Tigers had the ball, racing into the end zone from 13 yards out to push the Smith-Cotton lead to 28-0 at the half.

Smith-Cotton mixed in a short passing game. Quarterback Bryce Johnson, who completed four of his five passes in the first half, hit a couple of quick passes in the first drive of the third quarter.

Both passes went to tight end Kendal Brown with the second covering 15 yards for a score that put Smith-Cotton in front 34-0. A bad snap prevented an extra-point kick.

Kendal Brown  had a huge night kicking for the Tigers as his kickoffs frequently pinned the Owls deep in their own territory.

Junior running back Andrew Byrd, who just became eligible this week after returning to Sedalia after spending the past two years in Columbia, made an immediate impact with a couple of runs that put the Tigers at the Marshall 4.

Johnson ran a quarterback sneak, pushed his way into the end zone, and the lead grew to 41-0 as the third quarter ended.

Byrd added a 33-yard scoring burst on the first play of the fourth, and Smith-Cotton led 48-0.

Dominique Smith replaced Johnson at quarterback and scored on a 33-yard run.

Nick Tuggle booted the extra point, setting the final margin.

Now the Tigers must put the win behind them and prepare for a tough West Central Conference opponent next week. The O’Hara Celtics will play next Friday night at Jennie Jaynes Stadium.

“The winner of that’s got the advantage in the conference race,” Johnson said. “It’s going to be speed against speed. You know, the key thing is who’s better up front and who executes and doesn’t miss tackles and does things right.”