The march to the AT&T Stadium field was a relatively new feeling for the Tidehaven players and community. It had been since 1980 since the Tigers were in a title game. But David Lucio’s *Loose-ee-oh” team was undefeated and rallied behind 24 hundred yard running back, Joseph Dodds, and a defense that had pitched 8 shutouts and only let up 1 second half touchdown all season.
Where they were was the 3A Division 2 championship and a battle with defending champs, Gunter. However, TIdehaven was certainly up for the challenge. On their second drive of the game, the Tigers went to work behind the Baylor commit, Dodds. Following his blocks, Joseph found a hole and raced 43 yards before being knocked out at the 3 yard line. A penalty dropped them back a few yards, but that was not a problem. Kale Russell would pump fake and then connect with Dodds on the 11 yard touchdown. Tidehaven drew first blood and led 7-0. Gunter would take the lead in the 2nd quarter after a field goal and 2 short touchdown runs and Tidehaven felt this one could get a way from them if they didn’t make a big play. Cue Joseph Dodds. The senior took the handoff with 3 minutes to go in the half…hesitated for a bit until a hole opened up and then punched it into high gear. A 61 yard touchdown run as part of Dodds 166 yard day cut Gunter’s lead to 17-14 and Tidehaven was right back in it. In the second half, the Tigers couldn’t get anymore big plays on offense and only gained less then 100 yards total the rest of the way. Meanwhile, the defense, who had only let up 1 second half touchdown all year, gave up 2 to Gunter including this 68 yard touchdown pass from Walker Overman to Cannon Lemberg that would put Gunter up 10. Tidehaven couldn’t cut into that lead and would wind up on the back end of a 30-14 final. However, the Tigers will always remember this magical season and with a ton of underclassmen returning, Tidehaven expects to be back real soon.
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