Tigers tune-up with trio of teams

What better way to see how your team will do in the coming season than to play them before the season begins?

Tigers head football coach Landon Merrill said a four-team scrimmage over the weekend in Laughlin gave hi insight into what’s working and what needs improvement

“I told them afterwards that they did a phenomenal job. They played together and they played with a lot of heart.”

The Tigers play eight-man football and players come from Telesis Preparatory Academy, Lake Havasu Charter School and home school.

Merrill said with a team this young and inexperienced – most have not played organized football before the season – a few mistakes were expected.

“Our focus was a little scattered at the beginning, we had a few mental errors. But we’re very young,” Merrill said. “As play progressed, we were more sharp, more aware and a lot more intense.”

Offensively, the Tigers look in very good shape coming out of the scrimmages against Laughlin High School, Mohave Accelerated Learning Center, Kingman Academy of Learning and Quartzsite Scholars Academy.

Running backs Nathanial Merrill and Calvin Lockhart both scored touchdowns during the offensive sets.

“Nathanial is tough to bring down, at 6-foor 2-inches. He was running through the tackles, at one point it took seven guys to bring him down,” Merrill said.

He also said that Telesis freshman quarterback Joe Grace looked sharp in passing drills.

“His throwing is where it needs to be now. And that’s good,” Merrill said. “His pitch needs a little work.’

Defensively, he said the Tigers backs shined but overall the unit operated at about 50 percent efficiency. But, he added, with over a week before the start of the regular season, that gives the coaching staff time to work with the payers and get them adjusted to the system.

“We’re going to work hard over the next two weeks,” Merrill said. “No matter how much we explain some things to the players, there are some things that only come with experience. So we’re going to work to be ready.”

The one day the Tigers will get a break is Friday, when the team heads over to Lee Barnes Stadium at Lake Havasu High School to watch the Knights open the season against Dysart.

“We’re 100 percent supportive of the Knights and when we have a bye week, we’ll be there,” Merrill said. “We’re all from one town and we want them to know we’re pulling for them to win.”

The Tigers open the regular season Sept. 5 at home on the Island Ball Field against Phoenix Career Success Charter High School.

You may contact the reporter at dbell@havasunews.com.