Last Friday night the Luverne Tigers showed their hometown crowd why they had a 5-1 record on the year by beating the Beulah Bobcats 58-0.

&#8220The kids came out after a tough week of practice and did what they practiced to do,” Luverne Coach Brad Waggoner, said. &#8220We went full pads all week and it was a lot more physical than the kids had been practicing before.”

The game was homecoming for the Tigers and they came out ready to play.

After winning the toss the Bobcats elected to receive but couldn't hold onto the ball for long.

After shutting the Bobcats down on three straight plays Linebacker DJ McCreary ran a Bobcat punt back 45 yards for the Tigers first touchdown of the night.

The extra point was no good so the score came to only 6-0 for the Tigers.

The Tigers were once again able to shut down the Bobcats' running game and forced another punt.

The next drive saw Fred Hawkins take over as the Tigers' leading scorer of the night.

On the second play of the drive Hawkins runs for 65 yards to get the Tigers' second touchdown. Tigers kicker Brezman Lowery was able to split the upright bringing the score to 13-0.

With eight minutes left in the first the Bobcats took the kickoff to their own 10 yard line.

However, the team started to get some momentum behind them as they were able to drive the ball all the way to the Tigers 30 yard line.

Unfortunately for the Bobcats, an ill-timed pass play was intercepted by the Tigers' Rod Rutledge and, after a penalty was called on the Tigers, was brought to the Bobcats' 39 yard line.

However, the Tigers started to make a few mistakes and fumbled the next play allowing the Bobcats to regain possession.

Beulah started to utilize its run game instead of trying to pass and managed to get to the Tigers' 39 yard line before being put in a fourth-down situation.

The Bobcats decide to go for it instead of punting and the results were less than desirable.

The Tigers took over possession at their own 39.

On the next play Hawkins ran 61 yards for his third touchdown of the night. After tacking on the extra point the Tigers were up 20-0.

The Bobcats defense started to come alive in the second quarter and held the Tigers scoreless for much of the quarter.

However, with just over two minutes left in the quarter Tigers quarterback Ryan Brown once again found his man Hawkins with a solid pass and the duo managed to pull off the Tigers fourth touchdown of the night brining the score up to 26-0.

After another failed possession by the Bobcats the Tigers were able to put Jesse Dixon in the end zone for his first touchdown of the game.

The Tigers extended its lead to 32-0 at the half.

On the first play of the third quarter the Tigers' Jesse Dixon ran 75 yards for a touchdown putting the Tigers up 38-0.

The teams trade possessions for much of the third quarter until the Tigers attempt at a field goal is cut short due to a roughing the kicker penalty called against the Bobcats.

The Tigers, being given a fresh set of downs, capitalize by handing off to Dixon who runs six yards for a touchdown. The Bobcats managed to block the extra point attempt and the score came to 44-0.

Just before the end of the third quarter freshman quarterback Chad Free ran 25 yards to get the Tigers another touchdown putting them up 51-0 at the end of the third.

The Bobcats were unable to get a strong momentum going in the fourth and a botched pass attempt with just under 10 minutes to go gave the Tigers one last touchdown and solidified the win for Luverne.

Hawkins was the leading scorer for the Tigers but he felt that credit was due to more than just his ability.

&#8220Our line was stepping up and they did real good,” Hawkins said. &#8220I just went out there and tried my best. Me and Brown are really close too and that helped us to get some big plays.”

Brown also felt that the chemistry between he and Hawkins was a significant part of the Tigers' win Friday night.

&#8220The running game was sharp and the passing game was sharp but we got to keep working,” Brown said. &#8220Me and Fred, we just work hard at practice and try to get better everyday.”

Coach Waggoner also felt that without the help of the entire offensive line, the win wouldn't have been possible.

&#8220The whole line really played great tonight,” Waggoner said. &#8220They really stepped it up and played a great game for us.”

Bobcats coach Jeff Lamb was disappointed by the loss but he felt that his team did come out to play.

&#8220[Luveren] was just a better football team,” Lamb said. &#8220We're a young football team because we were playing mostly ninth and tenth grade players. But I was pleased with our young guys but a lack of experience and immaturity hurt us. We're going to go back to basics in practice this week.”

Next up for the Tigers is BB Comer in Sylacauga and Coach Waggoner said his team will spend the week preparing for that match up.

&#8220It's a region game for us,” Waggoner said. &#8220We have to take things one game at a time and we can't afford to go out there and stumble.”

Luverne improved its record to 6-1 overall and to 4-1 in Class 2A Region 3 play.