The Silver Tiger Trophy has changed hands once again.
Smith-Cotton football lost to Warrensburg 32-21 on Friday, Aug. 28, at the Warrensburg Activities Complex, surrendering the rivalry hardware a year after reclaiming it. Warrensburg has now won the matchup eight times in the last nine years.
“It’s just one of those things where, I think we had a pretty good jamboree showing, and I think they let that get to their heads a little bit,” S-C head coach Mike Franklin said. “We did not have a great week of practice this week, and it showed out here on the field tonight … We have to be intentional with our actions every single day. We weren't this past week, and we paid for it.”
Smith-Cotton’s offense had trouble sustaining drives throughout the game. All three of its scores came on drives that started in Warrensburg territory.
“It just comes down to execution,” Franklin said. “There were a lot of plays where we just missed a block, didn’t run the right route, didn’t catch the football when it came in our hands. It was really just a lack of execution all around. It’s something we’re going to get on the film, learn from and we’re going to get better for week two.”
Junior Asher Cason set up Smith-Cotton’s first score with a punt return to the Warrensburg 3-yard line. Senior Alex McDonald punched it in from one yard out three plays later to put S-C up 7-6 with 6:50 remaining in the first half.
After senior Damian Johnson forced a fumble and Cason recovered it, Smith-Cotton (0-1) moved the ball into the red zone just before halftime, but a tip-drill interception by ‘Burg senior Trey Murphy ended the possession.
Warrensburg took the go-ahead lead on its first possession of the second half.
Following an interception defensively by junior Trevin Shaw — his first of two — junior quarterback Camden Mannering connected with junior Dorian Maham for a 7-yard touchdown to put ‘Burg up 12-7 with 8:05 left in the third quarter.
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Smith-Cotton senior Bryer Harris (10) dives to make a tackle during a game against Warrensburg on Friday, Aug. 28, at the Warrensburg Activities Complex.
Smith-Cotton senior Ian Jackson drops back to pass during a game against Warrensburg on Friday, Aug. 28, at the Warrensburg Activities Complex.
Smith-Cotton senior Alex McDonald (4) tries to get away from a Warrensburg defender during a game on Friday, Aug. 28, at the Warrensburg Activities Complex.
A Smith-Cotton player makes a tackle during a game against Warrensburg on Friday, Aug. 28, at the Warrensburg Activities Complex.
Smith-Cotton senior Demarcus Sims gets into position during a game against Warrensburg on Friday, Aug. 28, at the Warrensburg Activities Complex.
Mannering accounted for all of Warrensburg’s scores, throwing five touchdown passes — three to senior Theo McCracken and two to Maham.
“He’s so accurate and has a strong arm,” Franklin said of Mannering. “He made a lot of good throws tonight. There were a lot of times where our corners were in good position, and those two receivers they have are really good as well. Warrensburg made the big plays, and we did not.”
Warrensburg took an 18-7 lead with 2:33 left in the third after Mannering found McCracken for a 15-yard touchdown.
Smith-Cotton, which played much of the second half without McDonald, Cason and junior Armand Wright due to cramps, continued to hang around in the fourth quarter, coming within one possession twice.
The first time arrived after senior Rylon Curry recovered a fumble to set S-C up at the ‘Burg 26-yard line. Two plays later, senior quarterback Ian Jackson connected with junior Grayson Pottorff for a 31-yard touchdown to make it an 18-14 game with 11:54 remaining.
Mannering found Maham for a 27-yard touchdown with 8:43 left, but Jackson answered with a 23-yard strike to Cason to pull Smith-Cotton within 24-21 with 6:27 left.
“I really loved how our guys kept fighting,” Franklin said. “Our main theme this year is ‘Link Up,’ and you really felt like we stayed together for the most part when things weren’t going our way … The whole sideline, guys were positive for the most part, saying ‘We’re still in it. Let’s keep fighting.’ That’s really what I loved is they never had their heads down. They were going to keep fighting until the clock hit zero.”
Warrensburg’s offense erased nearly six minutes off the clock on its final possession, primarily through senior running back Hunter Michel.
Mannering delivered the final blow with a 22-yard touchdown pass to McCracken on fourth-and-12 with 38 seconds remaining.
“We just had to find a way to get some first downs and keep the clock moving," Warrensburg head coach Chris Cavanah said. “We were able to tack on that last touchdown at the end, which was the icing on the cake.”
Smith-Cotton will host Rock Bridge at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 4.
AREA SCOREBOARD
Tipton 60, Holden 14
Plattsburg 28, Windsor 12
Russellville 42, Cole Camp 7
Wichita Defenders 30, Lincoln 8-man 22
Paris 64, Northwest 8-man 42
CMAC SCOREBOARD
Jefferson City 32, Poplar Bluff 22
Camdenton 47, Heritage (Ark.) 40
Helias Catholic 45, Hannibal 29
Hickman 54, Ft. Zumwalt West 14
Lee’s Summit West 27, Rock Bridge 21
Conway (Ark.) 54, Capital City 7
Grandview 41, Battle 6
Sports editor Jack Denebeim can be reached at 660-530-0142.
