As week two kicks off, the Festus Tigers Varsity Football team will try to rebound after a week one loss and get their first “W” in the standings. This Friday the 0-1 Tigers travel to Sullivan to take on the Eagles and attempt to bring their record back to .500
Last week the Tigers lost a gut-wrenching 36-33 nail-biter to the new-look Dragons from Ste. Genevieve. It was a hard-fought game, and the Tigers made a valiant fourth quarter comeback, but fell just short. Despite the loss, superstar Quarterback Cole Rickermann put on a show with a five-touchdown performance, and the Tigers will need more of that magic if they are going to get into the win column for the first time this season.
Thankfully, the Tigers match up well with the Eagles, as they have gone 6-3 against them over the last decade. In their lone head-to-head tilt last season Festus got the better of Sullivan, and then some, with a convincing 42-13 victory. It won’t be a cake walk by any means, but the Tigers are certainly in a favorable position in a game they should be poised to win.
As for the Eagles, they struggled in 2020 and limped to a Covid-affected 2-6 record. They have dropped three straight meetings with the Tigers, but may have a revamped squad in 2021. In week one this year they demolished Cuba 54-6. This may be a very different team than the one that eked through last season.
The Tigers have history on their side, but the Eagles hold the home field advantage and are coming off a big win, so this one should be an interesting display of helmet-cracking, turf-gouging, leave it all on the field style football.
A big win here could be just what Festus needs to right the ship and put together a string of victories like we saw in 2020.
Good luck Tigers!
