By Ashley Hargrove
TANNER — With sloppy field conditions at Rip Swanner Stadium, Laron White knew Friday night’s game with West Limestone would come down to ball control football.
And the Tanner coach was right as his Rattlers pulled out a 14-8 win over the Wildcats.
After a scoreless first quarter, Tanner finally found the end zone on a 14-yard pass from quarterback Landon Stephens to Marquise McDonald with 3:58 remaining before the half. Mark Adams’ point after attempt was good for the 7-0 lead.
The score remained 7-0 at the end of the third quarter, but the Rattlers struck again shortly after the final period of play began on an 18-yard run by Tray Cosby. Adams extra point was good.
West Limestone cut the Rattlers lead with 1:32 remaining in the game on an 80-yard pass play from Brady Phillips to Jake Holland. The two-point conversion by Jake Blankenship was good.
“We got inside the 25 a couple of times but just couldn’t punch it in,” White said. “I wish we could have scored a couple of touchdowns, but they’re a good football team. They’re physical, they play smart and are well coached. They took some things away from us.”
In his first career start at quarterback for Tanner, Stephens finished the night 4-of-9 for 46 yards. He also rushed nine times for 53 yards.
“We tried to put him (Landon) in good situations and not throw the ball over the field,” White said. “We got him off defense a little more tonight just so everything wouldn’t overwhelm him his first game out playing both ways, but I thought he managed the game well. He did a good job.”
Cosby finished with 25 carries for 163 yards for the Rattlers.
