Pink Out! The Tigers’ Upcoming Battle Against the Falcons

By Zachary Remedies, Sports Information Class

WAYNESVILLE, Mo. Oct. 23--Waynesville Tigers’ eighth and final game of their regular season will take place at Tiger Stadium as they take on the Glendale Falcons in hopes of receiving their third win of the season. Friday night’s gridiron battle will begin at 7 p.m. and will be the Tigers’ Pink Out night for breast cancer awareness. 

Coach Joe Haynes states that weather is going to be a crucial factor in Friday night’s game. He anticipates some rain, and if not, the conditions are expected to be cloudy and around 45 degrees Fahrenheit around the start time of the game. 

Along with weather, Coach Haynes says, “We don’t really know how they will attempt to play us. Everyone plays us differently. Nobody plays conventional because of our skill set. Either somebody is going to be very conservative and play deep, or they’re going to be very aggressive.” 

Coach Haynes intends on understanding Glendale’s play type as quickly as he can off of the first snap of the game and adjust to it as needed for the greater good of the team.

The first time these two teams met in the 2019 Tiger season, Waynesville traveled to the Falcons home turf and beat them with a score of 28-24. The second time, Glendale came to Tiger Stadium seeking to avenge their loss from weeks prior. The Falcons earned the title of Class-5 District Champions when they beat the Tigers 42-28.

About the Tigers

• In the previous week, the Tigers faced off against the West Plains Zizzers in a match that ended in a Tiger defeat with a score of 56-20, making Waynesville’s season record 2-5.

• Chaun Beltran will be returning to play his first game since suffering a knee injury when the Tigers faced off against the Hillcrest Hornets.

About the Falcons

• Glendale's biggest strength is their ability to switch between conservative and aggressive play styles against their opponents

• In the previous week, the Falcons faced off against the Camdenton Lakers and took a loss of 30-48, making Glendale’s season record 4-4

Oldest Historical Rivals Meet Again as Waynesville Hosts Game Against the Rolla Bulldogs

By Zachary Remedies, Sports Information Class

WAYNESVILLE, Mo. 10/9/20--Waynesville’s sixth game of the Varsity Tiger football season will kick off in the city of orange and black as the Tigers play host to their oldest historical rival in Waynesville High School football, the Rolla Bulldogs. Friday night’s gridiron showdown will begin at 7 P.M. 

Coach Joe Haynes says that this game in particular will be “Four quarters of hell on Earth.” Although the Bulldogs have been home for the past 2 weeks due to COVID-19 related issues and unable to see the field of play in that time frame, Haynes continues to say, “It doesn’t matter which aspect you want to focus on, it’s going to be a fight.”

With the Tigers coming off their second win of the season against the Bolivar Liberators, they plan on taking the momentum from that game and carrying it on into this week's upcoming event.

The previous time these two teams met on Oct. 4, 2019, the Waynesville Tigers traveled to Rolla and had a “shootout,” as Coach Haynes calls it, with both teams going back and forth scoring until Mike Lewis made a 38-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter, followed by an extra point through the uprights, giving the final score of 49-35

About the Tigers

• In the previous week, Waynesville traveled to Bolivar where they played the Liberators at Southwestern Baptist University, knocking them off their high horse by beating them 37-33, making Waynsville’s season record 2-3

• The Tigers are looking to use their speed as an asset, similar to what they did last Friday night against Bolivar.

• The very first football game Waynesville High School ever played was in 1959 against the Rolla Bulldogs, making the Waynesville-Rolla showdown the oldest football rivalry for Waynesville.

About the Bulldogs

• Due to COVID-19 related issues, the Bulldogs have not seen the gridiron in 2 weeks

• The last game the Bulldogs played on Sept. 18, 2020, Rolla traveled to Springfield to play the Hillcrest Hornets, beating them 35-30, making the Bulldogs season record 2-2

Waynesville vs. Bolivar: First Varsity Matchup

By Zachary Remedies, Sports Information Class

BOLIVAR, Mo. Oct. 2-- The Waynesville Tigers will carry their momentum and motivation from their first win last Friday into Week 5 of their football season as they travel to Bolivar, Mo. to play the Liberators at Southwestern Baptist University. Friday night’s game on the gridiron will begin at 7 PM.

With this being the Varsity Tigers’ first game against the Liberators, Coach Joe Haynes says, “We understand that this is going to be a battle and it would not surprise us if it is going to be a fourth quarter, or maybe even a fifth quarter battle.” 

Determination and motivation for their second win of the season is what will stick with the Tigers on their journey to Bolivar as they face off against the Liberators this Friday.

Although Bolivar is ranked as one of the top 4 Class 4 schools in Missouri (Waynesville is Class 5 for football), that does not give the Tigers any less hope than it normally would. “It doesn’t matter if you’re going up against a giant or a mouse, you must have confidence on your side and fresh air under your wings,” Haynes said.

About the Tigers

• On Sept. 25 the Waynesville Tigers fought against the Hillcrest Hornets for the Tigers’ Homecoming 2020 which resulted in their first win of the season with a score of 31-27, Waynesville’s season record 1-3

• #12 Mike Lewis made amazing plays on both sides of the ball against Hillcrest, earning him the title of Player of the Game and the Rick and Cheryl Vernon Homecoming Award

About the Liberators

• In the previous week, the Liberators went head to head against the Camdenton Lakers, winning by a score of 38-26, making Bolivar’s season record 4-1

• With what is a seemingly good offensive run scheme with a total of 343 rushing yards against Camdenton, it’s no doubt that the the Tigers’ defense will be giving nothing less than 100% of their effort to stop them on their drives

Waynesville vs Hillcrest: Tiger Homecoming “Twin”

By Zachary Remedies, Sports Information Class

WAYNESVILLE, Mo.--Waynesville Tigers’ fourth game of the season kicks off at Tiger Stadium at Waynesville High School on Sept. 25. This game will no doubt be one of the most intense games of the season as they play the Hillcrest Hornets for the Tigers’ Homecoming 2020.

The game will begin at 7, but the introduction of the homecoming court and crowning of the queen will begin at 6:30. 

Coach Joe Haynes states that the Tigers need to “Maintain the ball on offense without any turnovers and have low penalties” in order for the team to be competitive enough against the Hornets in order to gain their first win of the 2020 football season. 

He also says that in his own opinion, the two teams are almost identical. “Where we are good, they are just the same. Where we lack at times and areas, it’s the same for them.” However with this knowledge, he also says, “Hillcrest is not a team to be overlooked because their record does not indicate how good they are.”

“The last time we met them we beat them handily” Haynes said. The 2019 Tiger football game against the Hillcrest Hornets ended with a score of 53-13, a Tiger victory. Waynesville’s football team managed to gain a good headstart on the Hornets by scoring 40 points in the first half and finishing the game in the second half by adding 13 more to their score. 

About the Tigers

• Last week the Waynesville Tigers went head to head against the Lebanon Yellowjackets, getting beat 55-20, making Waynesville’s 2020 record 0-3.

About the Hornets

• Someone to look for on Hillcrest’s team is #17 Gunnar Brooks. With 2 receptions and 34 receiving yards helping him score a touchdown and tie against the Rolla Bulldogs, he was Hillcrest’s MVP of the game. 

• In the previous week the Hillcrest Hornets played the Rolla Bulldogs in a game that ended with a score of 35-30 in favor of Rolla, making Hillcrest’s record 0-4.

By Zachary Remedies, Sports Information Class

SPRINGFIELD, Mo.-- As Week 2 of the Waynesville Tigers football season kicks into gear, the Tigers will hit the road and head toward Springfield, Mo., in an effort to take their first victory of the season against the Kickapoo Chiefs. Friday night's game will begin at 7 p.m.

Following the previous game, Joe Haynes, Waynesville’s head football coach, stated that his team needed to work this week on making fewer mistakes. 

“This team that we’re playing is very consistent as far as doing the right things and not beating themselves,” Haynes said. “We cannot make simple mistakes that slow down our progress on our drives.”

The last meeting with the Tigers back on Sept. 6, 2019, didn’t end so well for the Chiefs. Although both teams scored a quick 7 points in the 2nd Quarter of the game, the Tigers were determined to not allow them to score again while the Tigers gained 10 more points in the 3rd Quarter and 13 more in the 4th Quarter, adding up to a final score of 30-7. The Tigers reigned victorious. 

About the Tigers

• The 2020 Football season started with a loss of 31-28 against the Camdenton Lakers, putting Waynesville’s record at 0-1.

• A player to look for during this game would be #11, Xzavia McArthur. With last week’s game being the junior’s first game since 8th grade, he made amazing plays on both sides of the ball and had a breakout game for the Tigers.

About the Chiefs

• Kickapoo awakened this year with a good offensive scheme combined with a strong skill set on defense, which led to their multitude of interceptions and forced turnovers in their past two games.

• Kickapoo Chiefs played guests to Lebanon on the Yellowjackets' home turf last week, beating them 30-26, making their record 2-0.

• A person to watch on Kickapoo’s side is #54 C.J. Anoa’i.  He is known for having good upper body strength and a knack for forcing fumbles. This 6’1”, 265-pound senior serves as a big clog in the middle of the Chiefs’ defense.

Waynesville to Travel to Lebanon Friday

By Zachary Remedies, Sports Information Class

LEBANON, Mo.--Week 3 of the Tiger Football season will kick off at the home of the Lebanon Yellowjackets. Friday night’s game will kick off at 7 P.M. 

Head Coach Joe Haynes says of Lebanon, “They’re big. They’re physical. They have been. They will be. They always will be.” 

“We have to match that,” Haynes continues,  “in order to give us a chance to stop them on offense and in order for our offense to be successful.”

As to the last two meetings of these two conference foes, it has not gone well for the Tigers.   Lebanon has outscored Waynesville 86-0.

“It hasn’t been pretty for the orange and black the past couple of years in matchups against Lebanon,” Haynes said. In the 2019 football season the Lebanon Yellowjackets beat the Tigers 35-0 in Waynesville. Just one year previous to that, the Yellowjackets scored 51 points and did not allow the Tigers a chance to score after a long lightning delay, beating them 51-0.

The Tigers are determined to secure their first win of the 2020 season.

About the Tigers

• In last week’s away game at Kickapoo High School in Springfield, the Tigers lost the game with a score of 38-18, making their overall record 0-2. 

About the Yellowjackets

• With the Lebanon Yellowjackets having a good offensive run scheme and a strong defense to force turnovers, there’s no doubt that this Friday’s game will be intense and a tough challenge for the Tigers.

• In the week prior, the Yellowjackets played the Bolivar Liberators in a game that ended with a score of 20-7, a Lebanon loss, making their overall record 1-2.

• A player to look for on the Yellowjackets team is #5 Drew McBride. With a total of 22 carries and 98 rushing yards in their loss against Bolivar, there’s no doubt that he will hit the field on Friday night looking to make good plays for his team.