The Red Level Tigers put up a strong fight, but fell 40-33 to Zion Chapel on Friday night in Red Level to open up the season.

Red Level started off strong and took a lead early in the game.

At halftime, Red Level was on top 20-13.

Zion Chapel came charging back in the second half and went up 34-20 with 4:31 left in the game.

Red Level’s Parker Spears connected with Chance Russell on a long fourth down play and Russell went 70 yards for a touchdown.

The Tigers then recovered an onside kick on the ensuing kickoff.

Red Level went down and got another score to bring them within one point of Zion Chapel.

Zion Chapel was called for a personal foul on the play and the Tigers elected to take the extra yard and go for two points on the extra point attempt.

Zion Chapel stopped the play and then later scored to bring the final score to 40-33.

“I thought we played well tonight,” Red Level head coach Kenny Skipper said. “We played pretty well in the first half. We did some good things early in the game, but we just had some issues responding to adversity. That’s something that is going to happen when you have a young team like ours.”

Despite the loss, Skipper said he was pleased.

“We did a lot of good things tonight,” Skipper said. “There were a lot of positives that we can build on going forward. I’ve got no doubt that these guys are going to come in here on Monday and be ready to go back to work. I was proud that we never quit tonight.”

Next week, Red Level enters region play when they hit the road to take on McKenzie.