Malakoff Fells Defending State Champion Franklin in Defensive Battle

After the Tigers scored on their opening drive, neither team generated enough offense to punch another score into the end zone. Franklin had two opportunities before halftime, but Malakoff’s stingy defense would not allow the Lions to tie the game. Franklin’s best opportunity came midway through the 1st quarter when the Lions drove down to Malakoff’s 6-yard line.  Faced with a 2nd and goal-to-go, the Lions’ Devyn Hidrogo pushed the 6 yards needed to the goal line. However, Malakoff punched the ball out before it crossed into the end zone, and the Tigers recovered for a touchback.

Franklin’s defense responded with a goal-line stand later in the 2nd quarter. Malakoff pushed the football to the Lion’s 13-yard line. Franklin forced a 4th down attempt and stifled Malakoff there. Both teams headed to the locker room with Franklin behind 7-0.

3rd Quarter

Malakoff won the toss before the game and deferred to the 2nd half. The Tigers received the kickoff and, much like their opening possession in the contest, immediately drove down the field for a touchdown. Aided by an early penalty that moved the Tigers near midfield, hard running and short passes pushed Malakoff to Franklin's 41-yard line. Mike Jones then loaded up and took another shot to Chauncey Hogg. The duo linked up again, this time for a 41-yard touchdown, and Malakoff took a 14-0 lead over the Lions. 

The defending champions finally climbed onto the scoreboard midway through the 3rd quarter. Franklin went on an 11-play, 74-yard drive to score the Lions' first touchdown. Franklin had to convert two 4th down attempts on the way to the score. The first, a 4th down and one near midfield. The second, a gutsy 4th and 8-yards to go inside Malakoff's 30-yard line. Under heavy pressure, quarterback Cort Lowry hit Hidrogo for a 20-yard pass to the Tigers' 5-yard line. Jayden Jackson scored from 5 yards out on the next play to pull the Lions within a touchdown 14-7.

4th Quarter

After each team traded punts, Franklin had an opportunity to go tie the game with less than six minutes to play in the contest. A decent punt return set the Lions up at midfield to start the drive. On second down, a facemask penalty aided the Lions in moving deep into Malakoff's end of the field. However, two penalties against Franklin almost eliminated the advantage and all but killed the drive. Faced with a 4th down and two at the 21-yard line. Franklin went for another 4th down conversion. The Lions converted, and the possession continued.

Malakoff's defense stepped up a final time for the Tigers at the 15-yard line. Faced with 4th and seven, the Lions had their backs against the wall. Franklin attempted to run a trick play where the quarterback threw a backward pass to the running back, and then the running back launched the ball into the end zone, but the pass was just out of the receiver's reach. Malakoff took over at their own 15-yard line.

The Tigers gained the single first down they needed to force Franklin to use its last timeout. Malakoff kneeled out the rest of the 4th quarter to win the game. Malakoff pulled off the perfect, 16-0, season and claimed the 3A Division I Championship 14-7.

Malakoff's Parker Poteete earned Defensive MVP honors for his performance. He posted 13 tackles and one tackle for loss in the contest. 

The Tigers' quarterback, Mike Jones, received Offensive MVP honors. Jones went 10/14 for 140 yards and two touchdowns. He also added 119 yards on the ground on 21 carries.