After dropping their home opener against Tiffin Columbian 33-22 back at the end of August, Mansfield Senior spent the entire month of September racking up W's to put themselves at 5-1 for the season. During the Tygers current four game winning streak they have knocked off a Clear Fork team the school hadn't defeated since 2004 and an Ashland club that had beaten them six straight.

The Mansfield student body and community has certainly recognized the Tygers achievements and is supporting a Senior High squad that could end the school's decade long playoff draught.

"It's just exciting to bring something that's been gone for a long time back here to Mansfield."Says Tygers junior defensive back and wideout Chek Washington. "This is a football city."

"It's just a lot of fun, a lot of people are congratualting us, patting us on the back." Says junior quarterback Jalen Reece who was quick to deflect the credit. "It's not just me, it's everybody. The O-line, D-line, linebackers, wide receivers, everybody's in this."

While Reece has certainly been a big part of the Tygers success, it really wasan entire team effort in Friday's 29-15 win over the Arrows, as the normally dangerous QB completed just 7 of 13 passes for 32 yards and threw an interception. However, a trio of Tyger fourth quarter touchdowns, including a 65-yard interception return by Washington would propel Mansfield Senior to a big win to keep them atop the OCC standing. 

But the road will only get more difficult this Friday when the Tygers travel to Millersburg to take on the only unbeaten left in the OCC, the 6-0 Knights of West Holmes. Mansfield Senior Head Coach Chioke Bradley is confident his team will compete on Friday night, but says it all starts on the practice field Monday.

When asked about the match-up with West Holmes, Bradley says,"It all depends on the week of practice, the preperation, how our kids execute and practice with the game plan we're trying to put in place."

The Tygers coaching staff will need a solid game plan against a physical Knights team that averages nearly 42 points per game, but Bradley says he isn't worried.

"I've got confidence in our guys that they're going to come out because this is a big opportunity. They understand that they got the whole community and the school building on they're shoulders."

The Tygers will see if they're strong enough to carry them at 7 p.m. on Friday night.

@BrianSkowronski