Tigers' season ends with loss in playoffs

The Wasco High Tigers football team saw its season come to an end in the opening round of the Central Section Division IV playoffs with a loss to McLane High. The 13th-seeded Tigers already were facing a tough task, with the #4 ranked Highlanders in Fresno, and when you throw in playing that game without your best player, it was too tall of an order.

Hammie Lopez was hit with two personal fouls in the loss the previous week to the Shafter Generals, making him ineligible for the game at McLane.

Lopez was the Central Section’s top rusher coming into the game, but Wasco put up a fight against McLane, holding their high-powered offense to just seven points in the first quarter. In fact, they held the Highlanders scoreless in the first quarter except for the first 30 seconds of the game. On the opening kickoff, McLane scored on an 84-yard touchdown return, giving them a quick 7-0 lead.

The Tigers, using Daniel Hulsey and Aiden Hulsey at running back, managed just a field goal in the first half.

In the second quarter, McLane got a long touchdown pass to take a 14-3 lead, but Wasco still had some time left in the half to reduce the deficit. Unfortunately, with just under two minutes to go in the first half, the Tigers were stopped on a fourth down at the McLane two-yard line, giving the Highlanders the ball.

The Highlanders put a dagger in the Tigers’ hopes with a last-second touchdown, making the score 21-3 at halftime.

McLane used a couple of long passing touchdowns to put the game out of reach, making the Tigers try to beat them through the air. The Tigers did get a 37-yard touchdown pass from Miguel Gomez to Moroni Carranza, cutting the lead to two TDs.

But with the Tigers driving deep into the red zone, the Highlanders intercepted a pass and took the ball 99 yards the other way, scoring a pick-six touchdown and sealing the win, 35-14.

Wasco ended the season with a 5-6 overall record, with a 3-2 record in the South Sequoia League.