Waynesville Can’t End West Plains Undefeated Streak By Zachary Remedies, Sports Information Waynesville Tigers 20 West Plains Zizzers 56   1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q Final Waynesville 6 7 0 7 20 West Plains 14 7 21 14 56   WEST PLAINS, Mo.  Oct. 16.  Last Friday the Waynesville Tigers met the undefeated Zizzers in an attempt to end their streak on their own gridiron. Waynesville’s attempt, however, was unsuccessful as West Plains held on to its perfect season and beat the Tigers, making Waynesville’s record 2-5. Coach Joe Haynes says that, “The first half was kind of back and forth between both teams trying to figure each other out.”  By the time the second half of Friday night’s contest started, West Plains seemingly turned up their intensity and pressure with the flip of a switch as their defense made successful blitz plays against the Tigers offense and forcing turnovers. “We thought we had them figured out after halftime and then they turned up the pressure. At times we did really well and then there were other times where they caught us and made better plays on the defensive side,” Coach Haynes said. Up Next In the Tigers upcoming gridiron battle they will take on the Glendale Falcons in their final regular season game. This game will be crucial to the Tigers playoff seeding. If the Tigers push through and reign victorious, they will become the two seed most likely in Waynesville’s district, which will give the Tigers a much deserved rest in the form of a bye week before their next game. Marion Fiame fighting against West Plains defenders as he gains a first down for the Tigers   Eric Richardson made an amazing 54-yard touchdown run, Waynesville’s first score of the night

Rival Game Resulting in Rolla Victory By Zachary Remedies, Sports Information Waynesville Tigers 20 Rolla Bulldogs 34     1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q Final Waynesville 7 6 0 7 20 Rolla 7 13 7 7 34 WAYNESVILLE, Mo.  Oct. 9. The Waynesville Tigers played host to their oldest historical rival, the Rolla Bulldogs, on a clear Friday night last week that resulted in a Rolla victory over the Tigers, making Waynesville’s new season record 2-4.  Despite losing to the Bulldogs, Waynesville never lost hope, making countless stops on Rolla’s drives to the endzone, and forcing several turnovers on downs. Coach Joe Haynes says that, “They played our spread pretty well so we adjusted by running the ball inside, and we had success but then we would stall by some of the little things like dropping the ball.”  Although the Tigers had mishaps while on offense, that doesn’t deviate from the success they had on their drives. Sophomore running back Evander Bradford helped the Tigers gain their first 6 points of the night with an easy run through the middle of the Rolla defensive line.  Up Next Next week on Oct. 16, the Waynesville Tigers will be loading up on the buses as they head to West Plains High School to play their seventh game of the season.  Coach Haynes states that, “One thing I do know, for some reason, our guys are not afraid of them. They’re usually the big dog on campus and yet we play like we’re on top.” However, Coach Haynes does know that a win against the Zizzers will not come easily, but does hold onto hope that the Tigers will soon be on the road to victory. Xzavia McArthur stays on his feet holding up 3 Rolla defenders as he gains a first down for Waynesville in the second quarter

Tigers vs. Liberators: “We’re 2-0 in my book!” By Zachary Remedies, Sports Information Waynesville Tigers 37 Bolivar Liberators 33   1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q Final Waynesville 7 10 6 14 37 Bolivar 6 12 7 8 33 BOLIVAR, Mo. Oct 2, 2020. The Waynesville Tigers left the field last Friday night with chants and cheers as they yelled of their victory over the Bolivar Liberators at Southwestern Baptist University, making the Tigers season record 2-3. Both teams humbly came together after the game to pray and congratulate each other on a well-fought game. The Tigers Head Coach, Joe Haynes, while overwhelmed with glee, states that, “This is the momentum that last week brought. What this means is that we understand what it takes to prepare, and then go out and execute.”  With the Tigers trailing 30-33 with 1:20 to go in the fourth quarter, Xzavia McArthur made an outstanding play with a 46-yard touchdown that led the Tigers into victory with a 36-33 lead. Chase Evans followed up and kicked the extra point that gave the final score of the game 37-33.  Coach Haynes continues, “No matter what the odds are against us, we set the odds in our favor. We know what tilts them. It’s our heart, it’s our discipline, and it’s our pride.”  Assistant Head Coach, Mike Clutts can only sum up his joy in his post game speech by saying, “We’re 2-0 in my book!”  Game Leaders “It was every kid that wore those orange and black stripes tonight,” Coach Haynes says.  “There was no individual player that stood out. This was a team victory across the board.” Up Next The Waynesville Tigers will play Rolla next week on Oct. 9 at Waynesville High School for their 6th game of the season. Although the next game is only one week away, the Tiger football team plans to celebrate throughout the weekend and start preparations against the Bulldogs at the start of next week.  The Waynesville Tigers charge the field with #51 John Servito carrying the flag in place of #36 Chaun Beltran who is injured and unable to play.   The Tigers join the Liberators in a mid-field post game prayer and celebration on a well-fought game.

Waynesville’s Homecoming Fight To The Fourth Quarter By Zachary Remedies, Sports Information   Waynesville Tigers 31 Hillcrest Hornets 27     1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q Final Waynesville 7 10 7 7 31 Hillcrest  0 7 20 0 27   WAYNESVILLE, Mo. Sept. 25. Homecoming 2020 and Week 4 of the Waynesville Tiger football season ended with nothing but smiling faces from the Tigers as they secured their first victory of the season against Hillcrest High School, making Waynesville’s season record 1-3.   The outcome of the game was in doubt even past the final clock ticking down to 0:00.     Waynesville quarterback Mike Lewis scampered 44 yards with 55 seconds left in the fourth quarter to seemingly secure the come-from-behind win.  But Hillcrest reeled off some big offensive plays of their own and found themselves deep in Tiger territory with time winding down.   The Tigers defense was able to bat down one Hillcrest pass attempt at the goal line.  A second pass attempt to the same spot was low, causing the ball to bounce to the receiver.     But that final incompletion came with a flag back at the line of scrimmage with no time left on the clock.  If the penalty was against the Tigers, the Hornets would get one more untimed play, something the Tigers used at the end of the first half to kick a field goal.   The penalty was against Hillcrest and the Tigers were finally ready to celebrate. Many players collapsed to the turf with physical and emotional exhaustion.  Some even cried tears of joy.      After the game, Coach Joe Haynes said, “I’m so proud of how they fought and I don’t know whether to scream, cheer, or cry and hug them all. But I know that I love them.”   Coach Haynes, while overjoyed with happiness, said that, “While we were not as consistent in our execution, for the first time this season, we were able to overcome those obstacles that we created.”    Throughout the long, intense game with the Hornets, things looked rough for the Tigers until the fourth quarter where Hillcrest was on fourth down and nearly a foot from the goal line. The Tiger defense managed to stop the Hornets not once, but twice, using what Coach Haynes can only describe as “Heart. We stopped them two times in the fourth quarter when we absolutely had to, and we made it work.”    Haynes continues with, “That’s what we have to do. That’s what great teams do, and tonight we played like a great team because we fought to the end.”   Along with the most intense game of the Tiger season thus far, the Tigers recognized starting senior quarterback Mike Lewis for his outstanding plays Friday night by giving him the Rick and Cheryl Vernon Homecoming Award player of the game.    Up Next In the upcoming week the Tigers will go head to head against the Bolivar Liberators at Bolivar, Mo. However with the approaching game next week, Coach Haynes, along with the Tiger football team, said that Bolivar will not be on their minds until Saturday morning as they celebrate Friday night’s victory, and a well deserved one at that.    #11 Xzavia McArthur scoring on a 77 yard pass from #12 Mike Lewis for the Waynesville Tigers in the third quarter, to be followed by an extra point given by #34 Chase Evans, Waynesville’s kicker.   Waynesville’s Player of The Game, #12 Mike Lewis, was given the  Rick and Cheryl Vernon Homecoming Award to recognize his positive impact on the 2020 homecoming game.  Lewis scored the winning touchdown on a 44 yard run with 55 seconds left in the game.

Tigers can’t come back against strong Chiefs squad By Zachary Remedies, Sports Information   Waynesville Tigers 18 Kickapoo Chiefs 38     1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q Final Waynesville 3 7 0 8 18 Kickapoo 7 10 14 7 38   SPRINGFIELD, Mo.  9/11/20.  Waynesville’s Week 2 of the Tiger football season kicked off with a cloudy Friday night at Kickapoo High School. The Tigers maintained determination throughout the game, giving them hope that there was still a chance at a comeback victory. However, the Chiefs’ refused to give them that chance, beating the Tigers 38-18.   Like all football games, coaches need to make sudden adjustments to give their team the best fighting chance. Coach Joe Haynes says, “We made some adjustments on the defensive side to try and contain them and keep them inside because they were running off the edge on us.”    Although adjustments were made, they don’t always work out for the best. “At times we were successful, but naturally they had more success in that same [offensive] scheme than we had on the defensive side stopping them,” Haynes continued.   Naturally in football games, in order for an adjustment to be made, there needs to be a sudden feature in the other team, or a mistake. “Us getting in our own way. That’s the biggest thing,” Haynes said. “Little things that we need to do to execute on both sides for all three phases, we’ve got to do those things better.”   Haynes says, “When we do that, we will not have the same feeling constantly. We will have a chance to fight a fair fight.”   Up Next Making it the Tigers second week in a row on the road, the Tigers will take on the Lebanon Yellowjackets at 7 P.M. on Sept. 18, 2020. The Tigers will no doubt head into this game with the crave and intensity they need to secure their first victory of the 2020 Tiger Football Season.   Eric Richardson (JR RB) 14 Carries 117 yds rushing with 1 TD, 3 receptions for 36 yds, 2pt conversion.

Waynesville vs. Camdenton By Zachary Remedies, Sports Information   Waynesville Tiger 28 Camdenton Lakers 31   Teams 1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q Final Waynesville 14 21 21 28 28 Camdenton 7 14 24 31 31   WAYNESVILLE, Mo. 9/4/20.  The Waynesville Tigers opened their fields up to play their first football game of the season against the Camdenton Lakers on a beautiful Friday night in Waynesville. With the uncertainty of the future of their season due to Covid-19, the Tigers made Friday night their Senior Night to honor all their Tiger Seniors on football, cheer, and band.    The Tigers managed to keep the Lakers at bay in the first half of the game; however, that did not stop the Lakers from coming back to beat the Tigers, 31-28.   The Lakers are 1-1 on the season while the Tigers are 0-1.   Waynesville’s Head Coach, Joe Haynes, states that “I honestly thought we were well prepared and definitely thought we would be able to exploit them in different areas on offense and take advantage of their scheme on offense with our skill set on defense.”    However with all football games, mistakes are going to happen.    “Naturally there were a few mistakes on both sides of the ball, and that ultimately is what came down in a three-point game like this against arch rivals. The team that makes the least amount of mistakes is usually going to be the one that wins.”   Game Leaders A Tiger who had a big night was Xzavia McArthur. “Xzavia McArthur woke up tonight,” said Haynes. “He was definitely significant because he made plays on both sides of the ball. He played on defense; he played on offense. He was a spark when we needed him. If you’re a guy that's number 2 or 3 on the depth chart and you’re only going to get minimum reps, when you get a chance to take advantage of it, you got to be that guy that makes plays and that’s what he did tonight.” With this being his first football game since 8th grade, there’s no doubt his goal was to be on the Varsity Tigers football team and make outstanding plays when he was given the opportunity.   Up Next The Tigers hit the road next week to play the Kickapoo Chiefs in their 2nd game of the season. Kickapoo is 2-0 on the season, having beat Camdenton 28-7 and Lebanon 30-26. This game will no doubt be anything less than suspenseful as the Tigers seek their first victory of the season.   Xzavia McArthur (11) had a breakout game for the Tigers Friday, Sept. 4 against the Camdenton Lakers.  Photo by Zachary Remedies     Photo by Zachary Remedies