The Mendenhall Tigers made their presence known under the Friday night lights, overwhelming the Richland Rangers 49–13 in a dominant district performance that showcased power, precision, and depth on both sides of the ball.
Hundreds of fans filled the stands as the Tigers took the field with confidence celebrating Senior Night. The Tigers wasted no time setting the tone and establishing dominance from the opening kickoff.
Mendenhall’s offense struck first midway through the opening quarter when Jatavius Page broke loose for a 31-yard touchdown run, setting the tone for what would become a long night for Richland’s defense. Running back Jeremy Butts followed with a 4-yard score late in the first to give the Tigers a 13–0 lead.
By the second quarter, the Tigers were firing on all cylinders. Quarterback Ty Davis found Jaiwon Williams for an 11-yard touchdown pass, then connected with Zimir Posey for a two-point conversion that stretched the lead to 21–0. Before the half, Kane Butler powered in from nine yards out, and Anson Fewell’s kick sent Mendenhall into the locker room ahead 28–0.
The Tigers didn’t let up after halftime. Eddie Weathersby opened the third quarter with a 13-yard touchdown run, pushing the score to 34–0. Though Richland managed to get on the board with two touchdowns in the period, the Tiger defense stiffened and quickly reasserted control.
Early in the fourth, Cameron Smith delivered one of the highlights of the night — a 74-yard sprint to the end zone that electrified the Mendenhall sideline. Davis once again hit Williams for a successful two-point conversion, and Connor Woodard capped off the win with a 1-yard touchdown run and Fewell’s extra point for the 49–13 final.
Mendenhall’s balanced attack saw six different players score touchdowns, a testament to the team’s depth and versatility. The defense, meanwhile, smothered Richland early and forced the Rangers to play from behind all night.
The victory lifted the Tigers to 4–4 overall and 1–2 in district play, as they continue their push toward postseason contention. The Tigers will have a week to regroup as they have a bye before returning next week to face Raymond at home to close out the regular season.
Final: Mendenhall 49, Richland 13
Photos by Jack Jinkins.
