Tucker’s star-studded roster lit up the night sky and the scoreboard after posting a 55-0 rout over Martin Luther King at Hallford Stadium.
The state-ranked Tigers (No. 8 AAAAAA) did what they wanted when they wanted in securing the lopsided victory over their DeKalb County neighbors. Tucker thumbed through every page in the playbook, utilizing an assortment of formations to baffle M.L. King’s defense.
“It’s starting to come together. We had to replace a lot of guys from last year. We’re trying to get some momentum going. Hopefully, we can stay healthy,” said Tucker head coach Bryan Lamar. “The main thing for us is to understand our assignments and responsibilities. The kids always play hard. It’s just about them executing. We’re learning more about how teams are trying to attack us. We try to come in with a good gameplan every week.”
Six different Tigers reached the end zone during the onslaught.
The scoring spree began midway through the first quarter when senior running back Chris Broadwater sprinted through the hole for a 30-yard touchdown. After an M.L. King punt, the Tigers wasted little time in adding another touchdown. This go-round, the participants were quarterback Xavier Shephard and wide receiver Joshua Vann. The duo connected on a 28-yard pitch and catch to give Tucker a 14-0 lead.
Second-quarter action began with a 26-yard touchdown grab by Vann. Later in the frame, Taurean Taylor dashed across the goal line with an 8-yard run. Tucker was the beneficiary of excellent field position on this possession. Two plays earlier, David Davis busted through and blocked a punt, setting the Tigers up at the 15-yard line. Taylor’s score lifted his team to a 28-0 halftime advantage.
M.L. King showed a glimmer of efficiency in the third quarter. The Lions managed to move the ball across midfield, getting as far as the Tigers’ 30-yard line. However, overthrown passes put them in a third and eventual fourth-and-and-long situation. The drive stalled with a turnover on downs.
“We shot ourselves in the foot. There’s a lot of discipline errors we need to correct. We have to go back to the drawing board and fix things,” said M.L. King head coach Nicolas Kashama.
With the win, Tucker improves to 4-1 and 2-0 in Region 4-AAAAAA. The Tigers have rolled over the competition in recent weeks. Friday’s victory marks consecutive outings in which they recorded over 50 points and held the opposition scoreless.
Shephard concluded the night completing 9 of 10 for 182 yards with three touchdowns. Vann was a frequent target of his passes. The junior had four catches for 81 yards and two scores. He leads the team with 17 receptions, 366 yards and five touchdowns.
Both players have a solid chemistry which dates back to their days of playing youth football. This cohesiveness has translated to big plays and triumphant results at the conclusion of games.
“I’m thankful for everything. I feel proud about my performance tonight. When we were younger, we played park ball together. When he transferred over here, I was so excited,” said Vann.
This setback for M.L. King drops its mark to 2-3 and 0-2 in region play.
During the national anthem, the cheerleaders from M.L. King bowed on one knee in protest of racial injustice and their displeasure over police brutality. The players from Tucker stood at attention while the song was played. M.L. King’s squad was still in the locker room going over last-minute strategies.
