The Luverne Tigers played their final game of the season at home last Friday night as they lost in the third round of playoff action to a powerful Houston Academy team, 48-16.

The Tigers made a few mistakes that kept them out of the game and aided in their demise. They won the toss and deferred their option until the second half.

Brezman Lowery kicked off, and his kick was returned for 7 yards out to the Raider 39 yard line. The white and blue clad Raiders wasted little time in moving in for their first score. The drive covered 61 yards in 6 plays with the touchdown coming on a 21 yard run by Stanley Jones, who had 234 yards rushing on 13 totes. The PAT was good on a kick by Ryan Whatley. With only 2:39 gone, the Raiders had a seven-point lead. Whatley's kick off went into the end zone, and the Tigers started on their 20-yard line. The Tiger offense was unable to move the ball against the Raider defense, and they were forced to punt. Chase Free's punt moved the ball out to the Raider 44 yard line.

Again the powerful Raiders moved in for another score. The drive covered 56 yards in 8 plays. The TD came on a 3 yard run by Davis Flowers, and Whatley added the PAT for a 14-point Houston lead.

Neither team could mount a drive in the remainder of the first quarter and not until late in the second quarter.

With a little over six minutes remaining in the second quarter, Luverne marched 66 yards to Houston's 5-yard line. But the Raider defense stiffened and the Tigers turned the ball over on downs at the Raider 5 yard line. Then in one play Jones took a pitch from the quarterback and raced 95 yards for a Raider touchdown. Whatley added the PAT for a 21-point lead. The Tiger offense was unable to move the ball, and the Raiders were able to score two more touchdowns late in the second quarter for a 35 to 0 half-time lead.

The Tigers received the second half kick off and picked up one first down before they turned the ball over on an interception. The Raiders took over at their 44 yard line and moved in for their sixth TD of the night on an 8-play drive. The score came on a one yard run by Seth McGowan. Ryan Whatley added the PAT and the Raiders had a 42 to 0 lead.

The Tigers finally were able to get on the board late in the fourth quarter with a couple of late touchdowns. The first came after a 7-play 58-yard drive. The TD came on an eight yard run by QB Chad Free. Payton McGhee added the PAT and with 4:36 left in the game, the Tigers were on the board.

Luverne added another TD with 2:48 left in the game on a 34-yard pass from Free to McGhee; the PAT was added by Free on a run.

The Raiders reinserted their starters after this touchdown, and they scored on a 50-yard drive that took four plays. This made the final score Houston Academy 48 and the Tigers 16.

The Tigers were led on offense by Chad Free with 84 yards rushing and 127 passing. Fred Hawkins had 62 yards on 14 carries. Josh Kilpatrick led the Tigers on defense with 8 tackles. Davis Lester recovered the only Raider turnover of the night.