Fast start vaults McGregor past Tigers TYE CHANDLER sports@theglenrosereporter.com | Posted: Saturday, November 8, 2014 2:49 am Tiger football clearly got the better of visiting McGregor after halftime in their Nov. 7 matchup, but it proved to be a mere footnote after a worst-case scenario in the first half.   Glen Rose (7-3, 4-2) managed just five first downs to trail McGregor (5-5, 4-2) 28-0 at halftime on the way to a 35-21 defeat. McGregor clinched a playoff spot with the victory, while the Tigers dropped into the third seed from 9-3A.   “I think McGregor came out and played like it was a do-or-die situation,” said head coach Tommy Dunn. “We knew that they were a hot-and-cold team with talent. They had a solid playoff run last year, and they came to play (Friday). I thought our intensity was better in the second half.”   Considering the Tigers recovered two onside kicks down the stretch, each team turned the ball over three times. McGregor finished with more first downs (20-18) and total yards (408-350).   Both teams played excellent run defense. The Tigers didn’t give up a run longer than seven yards until 5:05 remained in the game and allowed 2.6 yards per carry, while McGregor was even stouter in allowing just 1.3 yards per carry. The game was decided through the air, as McGregor averaged 10.7 yards per attempt compared to 7.3 for Glen Rose.   Quarterback Colten Lane completed 21 of 44 passes for 324 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. He also rushed for seven yards and a touchdown on seven carries.   The Tigers rushed for 26 yards, and Matt Branham (7-11) was the top ball carrier.   Six Tigers caught a pass, as top receivers included Sam Strother (6-102, TD), Drayton Williams (5-84), Jayton Dillard (3-73, TD) and Ethan Hartman (5-53).   On defense, notable plays came from Braxton Barrios (sack, forced fumble), Trey Yocham (fumble recovery), Miguel Barraza (tackle for loss) and Matt Willis (sack). Stone Costello recovered a fumble on special teams.   McGregor quarterback Hunter January was lights-out in the first half, as he completed 12 of 15 passes for 247 yards and two touchdowns in two quarters. Overall, he completed 19 of 29 passes for 311 yards.   McGregor rushed for 97 yards, led by D.J. McHenry (22-68, 2 TD). Alex Parsons (3-2, TD) also rushed for a touchdown. Notable pass catchers were Cory Bowers (6-96), Andrew Taylor (6-94, TD) and C.J. Seale (3-61).   All five of McGregor’s first downs in the first quarter came on third down. The opening drive covered 64 yards in six plays, as January threw a 33-yard touchdown to McHenry (0-7, Joanly Martinez kick).   “I was very surprised (January) executed at that level, because he hasn’t shown that all year,” said defensive coordinator Todd Swearengin. “Their coach said that was the best game he’s played. On some of those completions we were right there, so you have to credit them for making plays.”   Although the Tigers converted a fourth down with a Hayden Swearengin run, they eventually punted. McGregor then drove 80 yards and scored on a three-yard run by Parsons (0-14, Martinez kick).   The Tigers had to punt again to end the first quarter. After each team punted early in the second, McGregor drove 29 yards to score on a one-yard McHenry run (0-21, Martinez kick).   “I would say our offensive troubles early in the game were more about our execution than great defense,” Dunn said.   On the strength of a 60-yard Strother catch-and-run down to the McGregor 7, Glen Rose reached the McGregor 1 before turning the ball over on downs.   “I think that was a 14-point swing,” Dunn said. “If we score there it’s 21-7, but we couldn’t get in from the one-yard line, and then they go 99 yards to score. We put ourselves in an even bigger hole.”   January passed for four first downs to move his team all the way down the field, including a 36-yard touchdown pass to Taylor with 19 seconds left in the half (0-28, Martinez kick). Glen Rose advanced across midfield before running out of time.   “We came out flat to start the game and that’s totally on me,” Swearengin said of the defense. “We have to be better prepared to play.”   Consecutive first-down receptions by Hartman helped Glen Rose advance as far as the McGregor 23 to open the second half before turning the ball over on downs. While an Alex Cocita pass breakup on third down forced a punt, Strother lost a fumble after a reception at the McGregor 35. The game’s next two plays saw Barrios sack January and force a fumble that was recovered by Yocham, while a deep Lane pass was intercepted at the McGregor 6.   “I think the opportunities were there for the comeback,” Dunn said. “We needed to come out and score in the third. We moved the ball, but didn’t do enough to get in the end zone.”   “I thought our defensive front could be strong and make it hard for them to run against us, which it was for the most part,” Swearengin said. “Braxton plays huge every week.”   A third-down pass breakup by Yocham forced another McGregor punt, while Hartman provided a 38-yard return to the McGregor 25.   “We felt like we could get some good punt returns on them,” Swearengin said. “We didn’t even set it up the way we needed to, but Ethan made a great return on it. I just think we came out with more energy after the half. We had some opportunities in the second half – it was just too big of a hole we’d dug.”   The Tiger offense needed two plays to capitalize on the field position, as Lane made the game’s longest run of 16 yards and then threw a nine-yard touchdown pass to Strother (7-28, Azahel Herrera kick).   “Sam is one of our leaders, and we’re going to try to get the ball to him,” Dunn said. “Maybe we need to try to get it to him a little bit more.”   After Barraza made a tackle for loss on the first offensive play to follow for McGregor, the visitors converted a fourth down before turning the ball over on downs at the Tiger 29 early in the fourth.   “Miguel did his job out there,” Swearengin said. “I thought Calen (Ballesteros) played pretty well at linebacker.”   Unfortunately for the Tigers, the teams traded punts, as Willis notched a sack along the way.   “Willis continues to step on the field and make plays week in and week out,” Swearengin said.   Starting at the Tiger 27, Lane completed first-down passes to Williams and Dillard before throwing a 50-yard touchdown to Dillard where the receiver was all alone deep (14-28, Herrera kick).   “Dillard was wide-open on that play three times in a row,” Dunn said.   With just over seven minutes remaining, Herrera booted an onside kick that McGregor fumbled and Costello recovered at the Tiger 47. The Tigers couldn’t capitalize, as they gained no positive yardage while turning the ball over on downs. Starting at the Tiger 44, McGregor marched down the field and effectively sealed the deal with an 11-yard McHenry touchdown run (14-35, Martinez kick).   The Tigers managed to put a touchdown drive together, converting a fourth-and-10 with a 30-yard Williams reception. Lane ran for a five-yard touchdown (21-35, Herrera kick) with 3:37 remaining.   “We needed the urgency we showed on that drive the entire game – not just when our backs are against the wall,” Dunn said.   Herrera and the Tigers managed to recover a second onside kick in a row, as Dillard hopped on the ball mere inches from the sideline.   “We needed to recover both of those,” Dunn said. “Our guys were going after the ball and just made it happen.”   An 18-yard Williams reception brought Glen Rose to the McGregor 19, but Lane was intercepted at the McGregor 7 on third down. A couple of first-down runs from McGregor ended the ballgame.   “Colten may have forced a few throws, but that’s not a good situation to put your quarterback in,” Dunn said. “We had to try to score quickly. They got a couple of sacks, but I think the protection was improved from the Whitney game.”   The Tigers will open the postseason against Cameron Yoe Nov. 14 at Waco ISD Stadium at 7:30 p.m. Cameron Yoe (6-4) is coming off a 37-7 victory over Little River Academy.   “If we can win next week, everything else is forgotten,” Swearengin said. “We have to step up our coaching and level of play to be sharper and ready to go.”