Bodie Pickens

Frisco City – The McKenzie Tigers fell 40-0 to the Frisco City Whippetts Friday night.

The exibition game marked the beginning of Miles Brown’s tenure as the head coach of McKenzie.

&uot;We’ve got a long way to go here at McKenzie,&uot; Brown said.

The Tigers were prone to turnovers as McKenzie gave up 4 touchdowns off of fumbles.

Three turnovers came in the first half alone as the Whippetts stormed to a 32-0 halftime lead.

&uot;We have got to get better on holding onto the ball,&uot; Brown said, &uot; It (turnovers) shows a lack of experience and mental preparation.&uot;

All the turnovers came on McKenzie’s side of the field.

&uot;Anytime you turn the ball over on your side of the field puts your defense in a tough situation,&uot; Coach Brown said.

&uot;Mistakes like that has to be cut out.&uot;

McKenzie started the game moving the ball via the running game.

Tiger runningback Derrill Mobley had some hard runs up the middle while McKenzie quarterback Sendrick Rudolph had early success with the option game.

In fact, the Tigers attempted only one pass during the exhibition.

During this opening possession, the Tigers faced a fourth and 1 at midfield.

The call went to Mobley but he was dropped just shy of the first down.

Frisco City took over with great field position but the Tiger defense stepped up and forced a three and out.

After the change of possession, McKenzie took over at their 35-yard line.

On just their second play of the possession, Rudolph fumbled the ball and a Whippetts’ defensive lineman scooped up the ball and rumbled 35 yards for the opening score.

Furthermore, Frisco City converted the two point conversion for an 8-0 lead with 11:34 left in the first half.

The Whippetts struck again, courtesy on their offense.

Frisco City’s tailback broke a 41-yard run to the Tiger 30-yard line.

With 6:31 remaining in the half, Frisco City scored on a five-yard run up the middle. The two point conversion extended the lead to 16-0.

In what was the story of the game, the McKenzie offense lost the ball again and the Whippetts’ offense had first and ten at the Tiger 34-yard line.

This time, the McKenzie defense put up more of a fight as the Tigers held the Whippetts on three straight downs inside the ten yard line.

However, Frisco City scored on fourth down with 1:27 left in the half.

&uot;Our defense was on the field a lot in the first half,&uot; Brown said.

Just two plays later, Tiger QB Rudolph fumbled the ball during an exchange to Mobley.

On the very next play, Frisco City scored on a 31-yard TD pass with :27 seconds left in the half.

&uot;It’s frustrating to get beat on mistakes such as turnovers,&uot; Brown said.

The Whippetts scored off another Tiger turnover with 9:20 left in the game for the 40-0 win.

However, the Tiger defense closed on a good note as Brandon Bush brought down an interception in the waning moments of the game.

The play probably prevented another Whippett touchdown.

&uot;That was a great read on his part,&uot; Brown said. &uot;Those are the plays that we need more of.&uot;

Coach Brown commented on what needs to be done leading up to football season.

&uot;The only way that we can win is by getting in the weight room and getting stronger,&uot; Brown said.

&uot;We simply got beat by a stronger team tonight.&uot;

Brown continued to discuss the importance of a strength and conditioning program.

&uot;We are going to work in the weight room all summer.

We will get stronger,&uot; Brown said.

Coach Brown is also pleased with the support of the school and the community.

&uot;We had a great crowd out here tonight.

I appreciate the support and we will have better showings,&uot; Brown said.

In closing, Coach Brown knows with hard work and support, he can get McKenzie back on it’s winning ways.

&uot;Like I said, we have a long way to go but I think hard work will get us in the right direction,&uot; he said,

&uot;I’m glad to back here in McKenzie and I’ll do whatever it takes to get this football program where it needs to be.&uot;