The LaBelle Cowboys varsity football team had their first (away) game of the season against the Clewiston Tigers last Friday. The game got off to a slow start with the first quarter ending in 0 – 0. At the beginning of the second quarter the Tigers came close to a touchdown but No. 5 of the Cowboys prevented this by getting an interception. The game went back and forth and after a fumble in the middle of the second quarter Tigers got possession of the ball. With 5.42 left in the half number 22 of the Clewiston Tigers scored their first touchdown of the season. The Cowboys struggled to keep up being down 7 -0. Towards the end of the second half the Cowboys scored a field goal for three points making the halftime score 7 – 3.

The Tigers came out the of gates quick and scored a touchdown in the beginning of the second half. The following field goal did not go so well because of slippery grass, Score: 13 – 3. After another fumble the Tigers got the ball back and Sophomore Oran Singleton (no. 4) scored a touchdown in the following play. LaBelle was trailing far behind with 3 points against 20 for the Tigers.

The Cowboys never gave up, and after getting possession of the ball after a fumble. Senior Tyler Vahle (no 23) scored a touchdown on the following play. Making the score 20 – 10.

Towards the end of the third quarter the LaBelle crowd was getting nervous. But the Cowboys kept their poise. Senior Enrique Hernandez (no. 2) caught a pass and ran a lot of yardage resulting in a touchdown from Senior Maynard Blackmon (no. 21) in the next play. Making the score 20 – 17 going into the fourth quarter.

Fourth quarter was very intense with both teams going at each other. With three minutes left and the Cowboys down three they got possession of the ball after a fumble. LaBelle tried to make a play but it was in vain. Tigers got the ball back and come close to the end zone. But the Cowboys’ defense was solid and they got the ball back with two minutes to go. Blackmon ran the ball to the 5th yard line with 1 minute left on the clock. In the next play, with less than one minute left, Blackmon of the Cowboys jumped straight through the middle of the Tigers’ defense and landed into the end zone, scoring the game-winning touchdown for the LaBelle Cowboys. The Cowboys won 24 – 20, winning their first away game of the season in a last minute thriller.