LAKE HAVASU CITY — The Tigers were looking for not only their first win of the season but a chance to make a statement in conference.

David Bell/News-Herald Photo. Telesis’ Jake Martin punts the ball away during the first quarter against Yuma Harvest Prep, at ASU at Lake Havasu Field, Saturday. Martin was one of the few bright spots for the tigers, as the visiting Eagles won, 58-12.

Instead, they found out there’s still some learning to be accomplished.

Telesis (0-3) lost to Yuma Harvest Prep (1-1), 58-12, Saturday, at ASU at Lake Havasu Field.

“I take responsibility for tonight, I’ll wear that badge,” said Telesis head coach Chris Denney. “I thought we were good and the guys were ready to go. But with our young guys — we have eighth and ninth graders that this is their first year of football ever — we found out that we still have some work to do on the fundamentals.”

Telesis looked good at the start of the game, taking the opening kick and marching 80 yards down field for the game’s first touchdown, a 35 yard run by quarterback Tony Hill.

But on Harvest Prep’s first offensive play of the game, Carlos Valencia blasted through the middle of the Telesis defense and ran it in from 62 yards out to tie. The Eagles took the lead on a successful two-point conversion.

It looked like it might be a shoot out, as Telesis was moving the ball successfully on the next series, until the Eagles’ Anthony Messer stripped Tigers running back Jordan Clingerman and ran it in from 46 yards out for a defensive TD.

That’s when the wheels fell off for Telesis, as the defense just couldn’t keep pace with the bigger, faster Harvest prep offense.

“We had a good defensive scheme, we just didn’t stay at home or we over pursued. But those mistakes can be corrected,” Denney said.

Telesis final score came in the third quarter, when the snap sailed over Hill’s head. He scooped it up and turned a busted play into a 75 yard scoring run.

“That was Tony doing what Tony does best,” Denney said. “The other big positive was Jake Martin punting for us. He did phenomenally for us and he’s only going to get better.”

The Tigers are on the road next week, to face Glendale Prep (1-1-1).

For more photos from the Telesis-Harvest Prep game, click here: http://www.instantimagegallery.com/iig/c/769