By Michael V. Hannigan | Photos by Codi Smiley
ARLINGTON -- The Malakoff Tigers are undefeated State Champions after beating the Franklin Lions Thursday afternoon, 14-7.
"It wasn't the prettiest game, but it turned out to be beautiful," said Malakoff Head Coach Jamie Driskell. "Our kids are unreal as far as their grit, their toughness. We all know they are good players, but they dig deep."
(Post sponsored by Tinsley Law & Title, Holt Wrecker, R&R lawn specialists, Gibson Pharmacy, GILBERT ELECTRIC)
In a game defined by defense, the Tigers made the biggest plays. Malakoff stopped Franklin in the red zone late in the fourth quarter. Facing a fourth-and-seven from the Malakoff 15, Franklin tried a halfback pass, but Malakoff wasn't fooled, and the pass sailed out of bounds.
The Lions scored just once in three red-zone possessions.
"We had a great plan against the Wing T. The kids bought in," Malakoff Defensive Coordinator Brent Watkins said. "We were just eating them up with toughness. They were bigger than we were upfront. Hats off to them; they're a good team, but our kids were just a little bit tougher tonight."
Malakoff throttled Franklin, holding them to just 224 total yards. The Lions had scored no less than 49 points in each of its last nine games before running into the Tiger buzzsaw.
Parker Poteete led Malakoff with 13 tackles and was named the Defensive Player of the Game.
Perhaps the biggest play of the game happened late in the first quarter when Franklin RB Devyn Hidrogo fumbled at the Malakoff 1-yard line, and Bubba Hicks recovered in the end zone. The play preserved Malakoff's 7-0 lead.
"That was probably the play of the game," said Coach Driskell. "You wouldn't think it would be in the first quarter, but that was huge. It kind of took their momentum from them a little bit."
QB Mike Jones paced the Tigers offensively by rushing for 103 yards on 21 carries and throwing for 140 yards and two touchdowns. His main target was Chauncey Hogg, who hauled in seven catches for 108 yards, including touchdowns of 32 and 41 yards.
Jones, the Offensive Player of the Game, and Hogg described the second touchdown during the postgame press conference.
"The safety dropped back a little deep, and I was like, "Chauncey can get behind him," so I put the ball on him and he was in the end zone and snagged it," Jones said.
Hogg added, "Whenever he throws it, I'm going to go get it."
As the press conference closed, Coach Driskell gave a nod to the last 15 years of Malakoff football.
"I want all the ex-players to understand that they're a part of this," he said. "The ex-players that we've had, from '09 all the way through, probably 300 to 350 kids, they're a part of this. They're a part of the reason we won."
"I just want them to know that they're a part of this as well. I wish we could get them all medals."
SCORING SUMMARY
MALAKOFF -- 1Q, 6:00 -- Mike Jones 32-yard pass to Chauncey Hogg. Landen Boswell kick good. -- 7-0
MALAKOFF -- 3Q, 9:10 -- Mike Jones 41-yard pass to Chauncey Hogg. Landen Boswell kick good. -- 14-0
FRANKLIN -- 3Q, 3:57 -- Jayden Jackson 5-yard run. Cort Lowry kick good. -- 14-7
The Malakoff Tigers Are State Champions!