In only the second game at its new home field, Howard’s high school football team made history.
Thanks to a swarming defense in the first half, the Hustlin’ Tigers built enough of a cushion to withstand a late rally and knock off rival Tyner for the first time in program history, posting a 27-19 nonregion win Saturday night at Reggie White Field.
Howard (3-1) jumped out to a 21-0 lead but needed a 79-yard scoop-and-score by senior Dicorius Knight to put away Class 2A’s third-ranked Rams, snapping a 24-game series losing streak that dated to 1975.
“I thought our kids played well,” Howard coach John Starr said. “We knew we had to avoid giving up the big plays to their offense, and we did that for the most part. Our defense stepped up and got after them, especially in the first half and then late when we really needed them most.”
After Tyner (2-1) had rallied to within two points and was driving for the potential go-ahead score, Knight picked up a lateral that skidded across the turf. As everyone else stood by, thinking it was an incomplete pass, Knight heard his coach yelling at him to run.