by Joey Crandall
Penalties proved to be the major difference between the Douglas and Reno football teams Friday night as the Huskies piled up a 30-0 win to spoil the Tigers’ home debut in Minden.
Setting the lopsided final score aside, the two teams were relatively evenly matched through the first three quarters. It was more Reno’s ability to finish its drives, and Douglas’ being hampered by procedural flags that added up to the 17-0 difference entering the fourth quarter.
The teams traded seven possessions in the first quarter as Reno took the opening kickoff deep inside Douglas territory to the Tiger 14-yard line.
The Tigers knocked the ball loose on the following play, though, and Tiger safety Nick Abreu fell on it in the end zone for the fumble recovery.
While Abreu had started the first two games this year as the Tiger quarterback, he gave way to Bryce James for the start on Friday. Abreu was utilized as a running back and on special teams and defense while still seeing a number of snaps at quarterback later on in the game.
Reno forced Douglas into a three-and-out on the following possession, but the Tiger defense was up to the task. Kaleb Foster picked off a Reno pass three plays later to set Douglas up at the Tiger 43-yard line.
The teams wound up trading
possessions seven times in the first quarter.
Reno kicked a 42-yard field goal on to take a 3-0 lead two and half minutes into the second quarter. Douglas had earlier stalled that drive at the Reno 49, but a roughing the passer penalty on a third-and-12 gave Reno a new set of downs.
The field goal came six plays later.
The teams then traded punts
over the next three drives before Reno scored on a two-yard plunge with 52 seconds remaining before halftime.
Douglas was penalized four times for procedure, substitution or false start violations in the first half.
Reno picked off a Douglas pass on the first drive of the second half and the Huskies’ Cole Eddy later scored on a 19-yard run for the 17-0 lead.
Douglas answered with its best drive of the night, driving to the Reno 3-yard line on nine plays. An illegal procedure penalty, though, set Douglas back on the 8 and then the drive stalled on a pair of carried for losses.
The ensuing 36-yard field goal attempt fell short and wide, giving Reno the ball back.
The Huskies tacked on two more touchdowns, missing one of the extra points, to seal the win.
The Tigers had another promising drive in the fourth quarter stall after reaching the Reno 16-yard line. A personal foul moved the ball back 15 yards and the drive was harpooned three plays later when Reno picked off a pass and returned it to the Douglas 27.
Cody Ball intercepted a Reno pass with less than five minutes left in the game.
Reno improved to 1-1 overall on the year while Douglas dropped to 1-2. Douglas next hosts upstart Hug Sept. 19 at 7 p.m.
Also Friday night, Damonte Ranch defeated Spanish Springs 40-6; Carson beat North Valleys 35-21; Hug beat Manogue 20-6 and Reed defeated Galena 49-0.
Photo courtesy of Ron Harpin/www.rahphotosnv.com
TJ Duzan makes a catch against Reno last week,
WEEK 4 RECAP: RENO RUNS STRONG
WEEK 3 RECAP
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