The Malakoff Tigers defeated the Mineola Yellowjackets 51-19 in Henderson County Friday. One of the most telling statistics was determined before kick-off. The Yellowjackets dressed 23 players; the Tigers had 33 athletes dressed. 

That may not sound like a notable fact, but in class 3A football, those ten additional players open up tremendous flexibility in managing the 11 players on the field throughout the game. It allows a greater sharing of the playing time, which means (usually) less players playing offense and defense. The end result is often less team fatigue and greater focus.

While it is presumptuous to think that the number of athletes dressed had a direct impact on the game, one circumstance could be used to buoy that argument: Mineola was a half-step away from making plays throughout the game.  

On both sides of the ball, a half-step or an arm’s reach or a split second can make the difference between a big play or zero gain; between a turnover and a score.

For most of the first half, the game was practically even. The home side scored on their first two possessions and led 14-0 early in the second quarter. 

Mineola put together a 15-play, 75-yard drive that included a beautifully-lofted pass from Kipton Neighbors to Eduardo Guerra. The play, executed from a dispersed formation, put Mineola in Tiger territory. 

Aidan Shepherd rambled 27 yards to the 10-yard line. Neighbors sliced between the blocks of Eddrick Irving and Elijah Zavalla to score five plays later.

Mineola had made it a one-possession game with 1:54 to play in the half.

Malakoff subsequently attacked through the air, moving 61 yards in three plays to score.  Malakoff 20, Mineola 6.

With less than one minute in the half, Neighbors struck. He took a wide receiver screen pass from Beckham Bowker, made two excellent cuts, broke two tackles and raced 77 yards to score. The score closed to 20-13.

Malakoff used the last 28 seconds to move promptly into Jackets territory where they hit a 40-yard field goal. At the half the score stood 23-13, Malakoff.

The second half started hopefully. Eric Casper undercut a flag route by a Tiger tight-end, intercepting the Tigers’ opening possession. The Jackets could not capitalize. They managed only two first downs in the third quarter, as the game swung solidly to Malakoff.

The Tigers scored on their next four drives, as they wore down the Jackets defense. Early in the fourth quarter it was 37-13. 

Mineola managed one more score when Neighbors was split wide left and out-leaped a Tiger defender to high point a long pass from Bowker. Once he secured the catch, no one could catch him for another long highlight score. 

Malakoff’s late game production, however, was relentless. They scored twice more to finalize the lop-sided score.

The game was one of possessions. Each team had 10 possessions. Mineola scored thrice with three punts and three turnovers (two on downs). Malakoff scored on eight of their ten possessions, punted once and suffered one turnover.

The Yellowjackets return to Meredith Memorial Stadium on Friday when they host the Commerce Tigers. Kick-off is set for 7:30 p.m.