After a loss against Oakdale and an unplanned week off following the postponement of its game against Gueydan, the Oberlin Tigers took the field in their home opener last Friday night as they played host to Hamilton Christian. Even with all the distractions of the home opener, senior night, and homecoming, the Tigers scored four of their five touchdowns in the first half as they defeated the Warriors 34-7.
“We started off fast, and that’s what we have do,” Tiger head coach Durell Peloquin said. After a week off last week, I was concerned about our timing in all three phases of the game. But, we came out focused and worked hard in all three phases of the game, and it showed tonight with a win. It’s great to be at home finally.”
After a Warrior punt to begin the game, the Tigers first touched the ball on their 49-yard line. On 2nd-and-5, James Robinson found running room for 22 yards. Later in the drive, on 3rd-and-5 from Hamilton Christian’s 17-yard line, a penalty on the Warriors gave Oberlin a brand new set of downs. Robinson, then, gained 10 yards on the next play to set up 1st-and-goal from the 2-yard line. Aiden Reed took the ball, on the next play from scrimmage, into the endzone for the Tigers’ opening score of the night. The extra point attempt was missed, but Oberlin was up 6-0 with 6:30 remaining in the first quarter.
Hamilton Christian fumbled the ball away on the first play of its next possession giving the Tigers back the football on the Warrior 38-yard line. Three plays later, on 4th-and-three, Robinson zig-zagged down field for a 32-yard touchdown run. Dominique Eaves then converted the two-point try to put the Tiger ahead 14-0 with 4:55 in the first quarter.
On the Warriors’ next possession, Oberlin’s Malachi Semien intercepted a pass. However, the Tigers were forced to punt.
The Warriors began the second quarter with a 2nd-and-7 from their 46-yard line before muffing the punt attempt. Following the muffed punt attempt, the Tigers got the ball back on Hamilton Christian’s 18-yard line. Two plays later, Semien found Jordyn Artis for a 15-yard touchdown pass. Semien then scored on the two-point conversion to give his Tigers a 22-0 lead with 9:19 in the first half.
Hamilton Christian began to find some offense on its ensuing possession, but Jeremiah Cotton was guilty of intercepting a pass for another turnover. Cotton, then rushed for 16 yards on the next play. The drive continued and was highlighted by a 22-yard run by Reed. The drive was later capped off on a 32-yard touchdown strike from Jack Chaisson to Noah Carter. The two-point conversion was not successful, but the Tigers led 28-0 with 2:27 in the half.
The two teams traded possessions to begin the second half. The first Warrior possession of the second half ended with Eaves recovering a fumble for the Tigers. Later, on 4th-and-4 from the Warrior 44-yard line, Chaisson completed an 18-yard pass to Artis. Two plays later, Chaisson threw another touchdown pass. This time it was to Robinson for a 27-yard score. The Tigers were again unsuccessful on the two-point conversion but went up 34-0 with 2:51 remaining in the third quarter.
Hamilton Christian’s lone score came on a 1st-and-goal from the 2-yard line with 45 seconds on the clock in the fourth quarter.
The big performance against Hamilton Christian was huge, according to Peloquin, for his team’s game tonight against undefeated Grand Lake in Jennings.
