The Straughn Tigers were able to outlast the Opp Bobcats last night 42-25.

The Tigers got off to a lightning-fast start and didn’t slow up the entire first half.

Straughn drove 65 yards in just over two minutes in their first possession. Senior quarterback Josh Dewrell was able to get in the end zone for his first of four first-half touchdown runs.

After the Tiger defense forced a punt, Straughn took over again and looked unstoppable, driving the ball 66 yards in just over two minutes with Dewrell capping off the drive with a 1-yard sneak up the middle for his second touchdown.

Following the Dewrell extra point, the Tigers led by a score of 14-0.

The Bobcats broke onto the scoreboard with 2:21 to go in the opening quarter, when senior quarterback Tyler Harrison found senior running back Quardir Kincade for the 54-yard touchdown pass. The extra point was no good, leaving the Bobcats trailing by a score of 14-6.

Chase Short set up the Tigers’ next scoring drive with a 38-yard run on the first play. Then a few plays later, Dewrell took a third consecutive trip to the end zone with a 20-yard touchdown run, giving the Tigers a 21-6 advantage with 1:01 left in the first quarter.

Showing no signs of slowing, up the Tigers continued their first half domination when Straughn’s Riley Watson sacked Harrison for a 12-yard loss that forced the Bobcats second punt.

Following the punt, the Tigers drove 66-yards for the touchdown, giving Straughn their fourth touchdown in as many possessions.

The Bobcats’ next possession was a successful trip as they used a mixture of pass and run to drive 70 yards on five plays with senior Richard Davis running in the touchdown from five-yards out.

A failed two-point conversion left the Bobcats trailing 28-12.

Making the most of every possession of the first half, the Tigers scored on their fifth consecutive possession, this time with Short getting the touchdown from three-yards out. The Tigers enjoyed a 35-12 halftime lead.

The Tigers started the second half by recovering an onside kick.

The possession was only three plays long, as Dewrell was stripped from behind and senior Al McGraw was able to fall on the loose ball for the Bobcats.

Taking advantage of the turnover, the Bobcats wasted little time before Kincade made the Tiger defense look silly as he broke for a 36-yard touchdown. Following the extra point, the Bobcats moved the score closer, 35-19.

After moving the ball effortlessly in the first half, the Tigers’ offense stalled the next few possessions and the Bobcats forced Dewrell to throw an interception that was grabbed by senior cornerback Drew Smith.

Taking advantage again of a turnover, the Bobcats’ offense was able to drive 77 yards behind the arm of Harrison and the legs of Kincade who finished off the drive with a five-yard touchdown run. The two-point conversion was no good.

The Tigers answered on the next drive, using just over three minutes on a 67-yard scoring drive that was finished off by a Short 11-yard touchdown run bringing the final score to 42-25.

The Tigers finished the night with 485 total rushing yards. Dewrell scored 171 yards on 21 carries and four touchdowns.

Short finished with 20 carries for 196 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Opp finished with 414 yards of total offense with 261 yards coming on the ground and 153 yards in the air.

Tyler Harrison completed eight out of 13 passes for 153 yards and a touchdown.

Kincade finished with 13 carries for 116 yards and two touchdowns as well as one reception for 54 yards and touchdown.

“ We didn’t play well the first half,” said Opp head coach Jack Whigham, “but we didn’t quit. We got beat by a very quality Straughn team. Our boys could have quit but they didn’t. I believe we have become better as a team from this.”

With the loss, Opp falls to 2-3 (2-1). The Bobcats will travel to Brundidge to face Pike County next Friday night at 7.

With the win the Straughn Tigers remain undefeated and will host Bullock County next week for Homecoming. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

“We played really well the first half and I can’t take anything from (Opp), they never quit,” said Straughn head coach Trent Taylor.

“This was a big rivalry win for us,” he said.