Tigers pull of shocking win

PORTERVILLE -- The odds definitely were not on the side of the Lemoore High Tigers’ late in their non-league football game vs. Monache on Friday night.

But somehow the Tigers pulled it off.

Eric Aviles booted a 47-yard field goal as time expired and Lemoore defeated the Marauders 10-9.

Aviles game-winning kick was certainly spectacular for Tiger fans. But it might not have been more remarkable than the way Lemoore set up the score.

Lemoore (5-3) started its final drive after receiving a punt with 35 seconds left. The Tigers struck with a 32-yard pass from Jo Jones to Beau Avila, and then spiked the ball with 5.9 seconds remaining.

The Tigers opted to run another play instead of trying a 52-yard field goal, and Jones connected with Marshall Taylor on a 5-yard out pattern, stopping the clock with 1.6 seconds left.

Aviles then split the uprights with a few yards to spare — the final Jones-to-Taylor pass likely being the difference between a field goal and a narrow miss.

As expected, the game was a gritty, hard-hitting affair between two of the area’s tougher defenses.

Monache (6-2) managed only 45 yards rushing and Lemoore ran for only 52.

Jones completed 12 of 18 passes for 120 yards, with Avila making five receptions for 79 yards. The Tigers scored their only touchdown on a 1-yard run by Matt Omler in the first quarter.

Monache passed for 191 yards and a touchdown. The Marauders broke a 7-7 tie on a third-quarter safety.

The Tigers return to West Yosemite League play next week, at Golden West.