Homecoming festivities and the Titus County Fair created a vibrant atmosphere for Mount Pleasant’s Friday night district matchup versus Whitehouse as the Tigers were looking to move up in the District 9-5A standings. The Mount Pleasant defense rose to the occasion holding Whitehouse to only 83 yards of total offense inducing 4 Wildcat turnovers and 8 three-and-outs. That defensive prowess and a formidable offensive attack helped the Tigers cruise to victory.

Both teams opened the game struggling to get anything going on offense. The first quarter ended with the score knotted at zero before the Tigers broke things open. The Tigers put together a 13-play drive that ended with a 3-yard Edward Wilder touchdown plunge to put Mount Pleasant on the board early in the second quarter. The extra point was good to make the score 7-0. Whitehouse would respond with an 11-play drive that resulted in their first touchdown of the game to tie the game again at 7-7 but that would be all the momentum the Wildcats could muster. Mount Pleasant would turn around and march down the field as Layne Pinckard ended the drive with a 1-yard QB sneak into the endzone to take the lead for good, 14-7. Both teams would get another shot before the half, but the Tiger defense would hold with Kelvin Nesbitt tackling the Wildcat running back in the endzone for a safety to make the score 16-7 at the half.

The second half was all Mount Pleasant as three turnovers by Whitehouse would occur after the break. The Tigers covered up two fumbles and pulled down one interception keeping the Wildcats on their half of the field for much of the final two quarters. Wilder added some insurance points with a 6-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter that would set the final score at 23-7.

The aforementioned defense was key to the Tiger victory. Braylon Jones led Mount Pleasant with 10 total tackles followed by Ervin Mickens with 7 tackles and Jacolby Russell and Ricky Sampson with 6 apiece. Mickens seemed to be everywhere adding a fumble recovery and interception along with Nick Chappell also covering a fumble. The Tiger rushing attack was also dominant with Tyson Minter racking up 113 yards, Wilder cruising to 99 yards and two touchdowns, and Johnny Smith adding 29 yards on the ground. Quarterback Layne Pinckard finished 7 of 16 for 84 yards with 1 touchdown on the ground and 1 interception. Miller McCrumby led the Tiger receivers with 4 catches for 53 yards.

Next up, the Tigers (2-3, 1-1) will travel to Nacogdoches (1-4, 1-1) to take on the Dragons who are coming off an 18-13 loss to Pine Tree. Last season the Tigers fell to Nacogdoches 23-25 but will look to flip the script this go around. Kickoff is set for 7:30 PM.

By Drew Barkley
Photos by John Whitten