FHS opened up their varsity football season with a 26-0 blowout win on August evening. The matchup against the Tigers and the North Central Panthers in the Horseshoe Classic began the season for both teams. The game, at Lucas Oil Stadium, featured a first half in which the Tigers scored all of their points against the Panthers. This included four interceptions, with one of them being a pick six by Geoffrey Brown.

Before the game even began, the FHS student section was energetic to see their team match up against a state-ranked opponent, who beat them 31-7 last year. High pitched screaming and foam heads filled the stands as the Tigers made their appearance sprinting out of the tunnel. With a lost coin toss, the Tigers would be receiving, kicking off both the game and the 2019 season.

The game started with FHS’ Billy Reiter taking the kickoff to the 30 yard line, setting the tone early for the half to come. After that, the Tigers drove forward and put themselves in field goal position. The Panthers, now with the ball in their possession, were stopped before they could cross the 50 yard line and were forced to punt. This punt resulted in back-to-back interceptions, placing FHS at the 14 yard line, ready to score and get the first points on the scoreboard.

Quarterback Marcus Roux dropped back and complete a 9 yard touchdown pass to Jeffrey Simmons, followed by a completed extra point to put the Tigers ahead of the Panthers 7-0. At the end of the 1st quarter, a completed field goal attempt set the score at 10-0 Tigers.

“I feel like the team is much more confident in our play,” Marcus Roux said.

At the start of the 2nd quarter, FHS managed to intercept the ball yet again and take it to the opponent’s 40. During the same drive, Roux found room for a 17 yard touchdown pass to Nick Leath to extend the lead over the Panthers to 17-0. With the ball back in the hands of North Central, the Tigers’ defense stopped the drive, forcing them to punt early.

However, FHS had to do the same, but unlike the Panthers, would recover their own punt as it was muffed. Back in possession of the ball, they would settle for a 40 yard field goal to further their lead to 20-0. With minutes left in the half, middle linebacker Geoffrey Brown intercepted the ball and returned it for a pick six. Going into the half, FHS led 26-0.

After a first half full of action, neither team could get into a groove in the second. This kept the score at 26-0 as the Tigers and Panthers traded punts and interceptions.

“I think the win tonight was a really good start to the season and gave me and a lot of others high hopes or the rest of the season.” Kyle Boatman said.

The FHS Tigers will head to Pike High School on Aug. 30 to continue their season.

“I feel very confident in the team right now. Our defense is doing what they need to do and our special teams is awesome, and our offense is coming together very nicely,” Roux said.