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It was Kyle Fowler against the McLoud defense Friday night and the Tecumseh quarterback prevailed, but not by a lot.
Fowler ran for 133 yards and two touchdowns, passed for 203 yards and another TD, and withstood four interceptions as the Savages beat the Redskins, 29-20, in their annual rivalry.
Tecumseh’s win also kept the Savages in a good playoff position. The T-towners are 4-5 overall, 3-3 in District 4A-2 and eyeing a likely fourth-place district finish.
“We know this keeps us in the driver’s seat,” Tecumseh head coach Greg George said of his team’s playoff chances.
The win over McLoud was by no means easy. The Redskins led 14-13 at halftime and were within striking distance at 22-14 in the game’s closing minutes.
Facing a fourth-down-and-7 at the Redskin 16, Fowler dealt a fatal blow to McLoud’s comeback hopes. His 10-yard completion to Keith Longhorn on the right sideline resulted in a first-and-goal at the 6. Two plays later, Fowler ran in a 2-yard TD that gave Tecumseh a 29-14 cushion with 1:19 remaining.
McLoud kept it interesting in the closing seconds, marching 64 yards in four plays, including a 31-yard pass from Corey Wiley to Travis Carroll. With :33 left on the clock, Wiley found Tyler York for a 7-yard TD strike and McLoud trailed, 29-20.
The 2-point conversion attempt failed, securing Tecumseh’s victory.
Fowler had 34 of Tecumseh’s 37 rushes Friday and 133 of the team’s 140 rushing yards. His first touchdown was an 11-yarder 4:15 after the opening kickoff that put the Savages up 7-0.
Fowler’s TD pass was a 29-yarder to Ryan Craighead with 1:47 left in the third quarter.
Craighead was also credited with a touchdown run, albeit a fortunate one. He fumbled a handoff at the McLoud 2-yard line late in the first quarter, but the ball tumbled forward across the goal line and Craighead fell on it.
Turnovers were a problem for both teams and halted several drives. McLoud lost two fumbles and one interception. Fowler was picked off four times — once near the end of the first half and three times in the second half.
McLoud’s Robbie Gray had two of the interceptions, while Wiley and Carroll had one each.
Wiley, the Redskin QB, finished with 161 passing yards on an 11-for-17 effort. McLoud’s top rusher was Talon Polach with eight carries for 53 yards.
After the game, Tecumseh’s head coach had nothing but praise for McLoud and the rivalry.
“Coach (Eric) Cardin and his staff do a great job and our staff does a great job,” George said. “The kids play hard against each other and have some great battles. This was a good, hard-fought game.”
McLoud, which was coming off a 42-26 win over Santa Fe South, is 1-8 overall and 1-5 in district. Tecumseh gets Santa Fe South at home next week.
McLoud will also celebrate Senior Night next Friday by entertaining Cushing.
It was Kyle Fowler against the McLoud defense Friday night and the Tecumseh quarterback prevailed, but not by a lot.
Fowler ran for 133 yards and two touchdowns, passed for 203 yards and another TD, and withstood four interceptions as the Savages beat the Redskins, 29-20, in their annual rivalry.
Tecumseh’s win also kept the Savages in a good playoff position. The T-towners are 4-5 overall, 3-3 in District 4A-2 and eyeing a likely fourth-place district finish.
“We know this keeps us in the driver’s seat,” Tecumseh head coach Greg George said of his team’s playoff chances.
The win over McLoud was by no means easy. The Redskins led 14-13 at halftime and were within striking distance at 22-14 in the game’s closing minutes.
Facing a fourth-down-and-7 at the Redskin 16, Fowler dealt a fatal blow to McLoud’s comeback hopes. His 10-yard completion to Keith Longhorn on the right sideline resulted in a first-and-goal at the 6. Two plays later, Fowler ran in a 2-yard TD that gave Tecumseh a 29-14 cushion with 1:19 remaining.
McLoud kept it interesting in the closing seconds, marching 64 yards in four plays, including a 31-yard pass from Corey Wiley to Travis Carroll. With :33 left on the clock, Wiley found Tyler York for a 7-yard TD strike and McLoud trailed, 29-20.
The 2-point conversion attempt failed, securing Tecumseh’s victory.
Fowler had 34 of Tecumseh’s 37 rushes Friday and 133 of the team’s 140 rushing yards. His first touchdown was an 11-yarder 4:15 after the opening kickoff that put the Savages up 7-0.
Fowler’s TD pass was a 29-yarder to Ryan Craighead with 1:47 left in the third quarter.
Craighead was also credited with a touchdown run, albeit a fortunate one. He fumbled a handoff at the McLoud 2-yard line late in the first quarter, but the ball tumbled forward across the goal line and Craighead fell on it.
Turnovers were a problem for both teams and halted several drives. McLoud lost two fumbles and one interception. Fowler was picked off four times — once near the end of the first half and three times in the second half.
McLoud’s Robbie Gray had two of the interceptions, while Wiley and Carroll had one each.
Wiley, the Redskin QB, finished with 161 passing yards on an 11-for-17 effort. McLoud’s top rusher was Talon Polach with eight carries for 53 yards.
After the game, Tecumseh’s head coach had nothing but praise for McLoud and the rivalry.
“Coach (Eric) Cardin and his staff do a great job and our staff does a great job,” George said. “The kids play hard against each other and have some great battles. This was a good, hard-fought game.”
McLoud, which was coming off a 42-26 win over Santa Fe South, is 1-8 overall and 1-5 in district. Tecumseh gets Santa Fe South at home next week.
McLoud will also celebrate Senior Night next Friday by entertaining Cushing.
