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After a bye last week, the Troup Tigers were back on the gridiron for their region opener away to Whitewater on Friday. After a blistering start from the Tigers, the Wildcats rallied in the second half to give Troup a 28-10 loss.

The first half was all Tigers as they were able to build a 10-0 lead heading into halftime, but it all came undone in the second half.

It looked like it would be the Wildcats that broke the deadlock as they took their opening possession of the game into the red zone but Tyrion Smith came away with an athletic intersection to keep the game scoreless. 

Troup would take the lead just minutes later when McCarty Harrelson nailed a field goal. The game would stay at 3-0 until a fumble recovery by the defense set up the Tiger offense deep in Wildcat territory. The offense paid off the defense’s hard work when Garrison Edwards muscled into the end zone from three yards out on the first play of the second quarter.

The Wildcats had another chance to score in the first half but missed a field goal late in the second quarter as the Tiger defense came through again. 

It was raining off and on all game and the inclement weather came into effect in the second half as momentum swung after the Troup defense forced a punt on the opening possession of the second half, but a muffed punt gave the Wildcats the ball in the red zone and the home team quickly scored to cut the Troup lead to three points. 

The Wildcats quickly forced a punt on the ensuing Troup possession and the offense marched down the field and took their first lead of the game (14-10) late in the third quarter.

The Troup offense could get nothing going in the second half and the Wildcats offense continued to pour it on, scoring 14 points in the fourth quarter to put the game away. 

Things went from bad to worse in the second half when Edwards, the starting quarterback, was injured late in the third quarter. He did not return and was replaced by fellow junior Chase Mosley. 

Troup is now 1-2 on the season and 0-1 in region play. The Tigers will travel to Mary Persons next Friday and have yet to play a game at home this season.