The Tigers watched the season come to end as they were defeated by the Columbus Cardinals in the Bi-District Round of the 3A Division I playoffs. The Tigers finished the season with an overall record of 6-5 and went 4-2 in district play.
“I feel like we played hard, but we lost our way towards the end of the game,” RHS Head Coach Jacob Campsey said.
The game started out with both teams playing tough. The Cardinals got on the board first with Ryan Barnes receiving a 40-yard touchdown pass from Ty Thomas in the first quarter.
In the second quarter, Ty’Vone Whitehead rattled the Rockdale defense for a 21-yard touchdown run. The Cardinals led the game 14-0 at the half.
In the third quarter, the Tigers raced down the field in quick fashion. They capped off a great drive with Kobe Mitchell scoring a touchdown on a 15-yard scramble. Columbus responded with a fiveyard touchdown run by Ty Thomas. At the end of the quarter, Thomas connected with Carson Wray on a one-yard touchdown pass to extend the Cardinals’ lead. Columbus led 28-7 after three quarters.
In the fourth quarter, the Tigers’ struggles continued. At the start of the quarter, Columbus’ Isiah Albright recovered a stripsack fumble and returned it 30 yards for a touchdown. The Cardinal offense continued to roll as Whitehead found the end zone on a 26-yard run. The Tigers would score the final touchdown of the evening with Kesean Raven catching a 26-yard pass from Mitchell with under two minutes to play. Hagen Land converted the two-point conversion on a three-yard run.
Mitchell went 10 for 22 for 121 yards and a touchdown. Cam’ron Valdez led the team in rushing with 70 yards on 15 carries while Raven led in receiving with four catches for 55 yards and one touchdown.
On defense, linebacker Chase Mayfield led the team with 10 tackles. Ty Mayberry, Raven and Christian Briggs also had standout performances with nine tackles a piece.
Despite being eliminated, Coach Campsey praised his team for the effort and fight they displayed all season.
“We fought through a lot of adversity this season,” Campsey said. “The record may not show it, but this group accomplished a lot. They brought the bell back to Rockdale and beat Troy for the first time since 2017. This team has a lot to be proud of.”
With the Tigers losing 31 seniors, many of the younger Tigers will be expected to step up for next year’s season.
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