Sunbright Scores First Win of Season
By Terry Futrell – September 28, 2018
The visiting Sunbright Tigers won their first game of the 2018 season, defeating the Oakdale Eagles 28-8 on the Eagles home field. The win was especially critical for the Tigers, who now face tough road games at Oliver Springs, Midway, and Lookout Valley.
The game did not start well for either team. Oakdale went 3 and out, losing 13 yards on their first drive. Sunbright followed by fumbling on their third play from scrimmage, with Dakotah Miller recovering for Oakdale.
On the Eagle’s second play of the ensuing drive, Garrett Miller hit Tyler Hinds with a 51-yard pass for a touchdown. Miller ran the 2-point conversion and the Eagles were on the board 8-0.
From there both teams struggled, with no scoring until a bad snap into the end zone by Oakdale early in the second quarter gave the Tigers a safety, making the score 8-2. Sunbright then took the free kick and drove 38 yards for a score on a 12-yard run by John Wayne Freels. The 2-point conversion failed and the score was tied 8-8.
Sunbright scored again in the first half after intercepting an Oakdale pass and driving 27 yards for a touchdown on a 4-yard run by Josh Langley. The 2-point conversion failed and the Tigers took a 14-8 lead into the locker room at halftime.
Sunbright scored early in the second half when John Wayne Freels intercepted an Oakdale pass and returned it 34 yards for a touchdown. Freels connected with big tight end Wes Bohanan for the 2-point conversion and the Tigers led 22-8.
The final score came early in the fourth quarter when Sunbright’s Josh Langley intercepted an Oakdale pass and returned it 40 yards for a Tiger TD. The 2-point conversion failed, making the score 28-8, where it would remain for the rest of the game.
Sunbright ran the ball 48 times and gained 215 yards on the ground. Oakdale was unable to run on the Tigers, attempting 24 times for a loss of 50 yards. Oakdale gained 79 yards through the air, while Sunbright passed for only 13 yards. Sunbright’s total offense was 228 yards compared to Oakdale’s 29 yards.