The way things have been going for the Commerce Tigers this year, particularly on defense, this past Friday’s win over Rains was just what the doctor ordered.
The Tiger defense was a whole lot better in holding Rains to just 14 points and getting a goal line stop of the Wildcats. It started out looking like Rains would be able to move the ball on Commerce, as Rains quarterback Montrel Christian had a 28-yard run, followed by a 15-yard run in which he fumbled.
Commerce took over and quarterback Landon Allen completed a 16-yard pass to Bobby Draughn for a Tiger first down. Shortly thereafter a Rains penalty gave Commerce another first down, before Allen completed a big 36-yard pass to Derek Hines that gave the Tigers a first and ten at the Rains 14-yard line.
Trey Hicks had a 5-yard run to get the Tigers to the Rains nine, where the drive stalled. On stepped Jake McCarty, who kicked a 27-yard field goal to give the Tigers a 3-0 lead.
Then after a Rains three and out, Commerce got the ball back and Taner Burnett had a 33-yard run, followed by a Allen to Hines completion of 17 yards, and just for good measure Derek Johnson had a 20-yard run up the middle, which set Commerce up with a first and goal on the Wildcat 9.
Then Landon Allen called his own number and ran in for the touchdown from nine yards out. McCarty’s kick was blocked and the Tigers had a 9-0 advantage.
Rains finally got something going on it’s next possession, as Christian and running back Travis Gibson helped the Wildcats move down the field. Gibson carried the ball in from the 3-yard line getting the Wildcats on the score board. Colby Hoover’s PAT made the score 9-7 in favor of Commerce.
While Commerce fans might have wondered for a moment whether the Tigers might blow another game in which they started out with the lead, they had no reason to worry on this night. Landon Allen’s passing, Derek Johnson’s running, and Trey Hicks receiving helped the Tigers move straight down the field and answer the Rains touchdown with a score of their own.
Derek Johnson carried the ball over from the 2-yard line. McCarty drilled the extra point through the uprights and it was 16-7 Commerce at halftime.
Then the second half started and once again Rains appeared that they might make it a game as Christian rushed for 8 yards, followed by a Montrea Hobbs 8-yard gain. Then after another 6-yard gain, Christian had a 10-yard run, followed by a 25-yard run which gave Rains a first and goal at the Tigers eight. Christian ran in for the touchdown and Hoover’s kick was good, and the score was 16-14 Commerce.
Commerce once again was able to answer back as Allen ran for 4 yards, then threw a 13-yard pass completion to Josh Pannell, and then rushed for 11 yards. Allen then completed a 44-yard pass to Bobby Draughn to set the Tigers up with a first and goal at the Wildcat two.
Hicks ran it in from the two and McCarty’s kick was good, for a Commerce lead of 23-14. The Tigers sealed the win when Hicks intercepted a Rains pass and raced 49 yards to paydirt giving the Tigers a 29-14 lead. With McCarty’s successful kick, Commerce claimed a 30-14 win.
The Tigers travel to Royse City this week to take on the Royse City Bulldogs, ranked No. 5 in the state.