Tigers end non-district schedule with loss to Shallowater

SHALLOWATER — Snyder could not slow down the Shallowater running game and sputtered  on offense during the second half for the first time this season in a 48-28 loss at Scott Field Friday.
The Tigers (3-3) finished the non-district football schedule and now will turn their attention to the District 3-4A Division I opener at Big Spring next week.
Snyder stayed close during the first half against Shallower and gained momentum at halftime by scoring on the final play. But the Tigers scored only once in the second half when they gained 121 total yards — 85 rushing and 36 passing.
Quarterback Logan Tate completed 19-of-30 passes for 215 yards and two touchdowns. Tate also ran for two touchdowns.
Shallowater had 553 total yards — 388 rushing and 165 passing. Running back Cooper Ogle  rushed 25 times for 215 yards and scored six touchdowns. Quarterback Chris Contreras had 183 yards on the ground, including one touchdown, and completed 8-of-17 passes for 165 yards.
“We didn’t compete, execute or tackle in the second half,” Snyder head coach James Polk said. “Ogle is a good back and we probably helped him to get a scholarship. We didn’t prepare well as a staff and didn’t have the players ready for this game and that’s my fault. I must do a better job of making sure that we execute and have the players ready to play.”
Contreras didn’t surprise Polk with his running ability.
“We knew that he was a good runner,” Polk said. “I believe we came too high on our horse after the victory over Greenwood, which defeated Shallowater in overtime. I tried to tell the staff and players that Shallowater should have defeated Greenwood, but they had too many unlucky breaks in that game.”
Shallowater  took the initial lead by driving 78 yards on eight plays during the first quarter. The touchdown was set up when Connor Smith pulled down a 45-yard pass from Contreras inside the 5 and dove to the 1. Contreras scored two plays later on a 1-yard quarterback sneak.
The Tigers answered with an eight-play, 65-yard drive to tie the game at 7-7. Tate completed a 12-yard pass to Abram Smith and a 36-yard pass to Dralon Jackson for a first down at the 13. Tate was sacked at the 18 on the next play, but connected with Smith in the back of the end zone with 23 seconds left in the quarter.
The first-half offensive show continued with each team scoring on its next possession.
A kickoff return and defensive pass interference penalty against the Tigers gave Shallowater a first down at the Snyder 15. Two plays later, Ogle scored on a 9-yard run, but a chop block penalty negated the score.
Brody Hendrick’s 19-yard reception gave the Mustangs a first-and-goal at the 4. Ogle later scored on a 2-yard run.
The Tigers needed six plays to cover 65 yards to tie the game at 14-14. Tate ran for 21 yards, Jaden Zamora gained 10 and a defensive pass interference penalty gave the Tigers a first down at the 12.
Zamora rushed for nine yards before Tate scored on a 4-yard run with 9:29 left in the first half.
Shallowater scored back-to-back touchdowns to take a 28-14 lead.
The Mustangs utilized the run with Ogle rushing for 15, 27 and 16 yards. Contreras gained 18 yards to give Shallowater a first-and-goal at the 1. Ogle scored from there to give the Mustangs the lead.
Shallowater then drove 70 yards with Ogle carrying on four plays. He scored on a 5-yard run to give Shallower a 28-14 lead.
The Tigers were able to reach the end zone again before halftime on a 13-play, 75-yard drive. Smith’s 17-yard catch moved the ball to the Shallowater 34. On the next play, Tate connected with Smith again, but Smith pitched the football forward, drawing a penalty for an illegal forward pass.
With three seconds to go, Tate dropped back and hit Smith on a 26-yard pass in the back of the end zone to pull the Tigers to within 28-21 at halftime.
“I thought we had the momentum by scoring the touchdown to end the first half,” Polk said. “We started the second half inside the 10 and made it tough on the offense.”
The Tigers started the third quarter deep in their own territory when Jackson mishandled the kickoff and was tackled at the 8. Shallowater forced a punt and scored on its first possession of the half. Ogle’s 11-yard touchdown run capped a 36-yard drive.
Snyder’s next possession ended on a Tate interception, but the Tigers kept the Mustangs off the scoreboard when Davis Mason missed a 40-yard field goal.
Shallowater increased its lead 41-21 early in the fourth quarter on Ogle’s 11-yard run.
The Tigers answered with a seven-play, 57-yard drive. Snyder moved into Mustang territory on a defensive pass interference call and Tate capped the drive on a 12-yard touchdown run with 6:14 left in the game.
“I was thinking if we could get a stop, we would have a chance to come back,” Polk said. “We couldn’t overcome not scoring on our first three possessions of the second half. We couldn’t get anything positive going.”
Ogle’s 20-yard touchdown run came at the end of a 70-yard drive with 2:06 left in the game.
“I’m hoping this loss will make the players hungry for the start of district play,” Polk said. “We have to improve before next week’s game at Big Spring. ”
In other games involving district schools, Wylie defeated Vernon 42-7, Brownwood rolled over Springtown 72-28 and Big Springs lost to Andrews, 60-27.