While the other two Sequatchie Valley teams were wrapping up their seventh victories, staying unbeaten, the Whitwell Tigers had the unfortunate honor of suffering their first loss of the season, losing to the Bledsoe County Warriors, 19-7, on Friday night.
The night was mostly that of a defensive battle, which the Tigers had been known to come out on the better side of previously this season, going six straight weeks without a loss.
Instead, it was the Tigers that were limited to one score while the Warriors scored three times in as many quarters – first, third and fourth quarters.
The Tigers’ one and only score came at just under the nine-minute mark in the second quarter, when quarterback Bennett McDougal found Ryan Scott on a 3-yard touchdown pass.
That pass was one of only two Tigers’ passes completed for the night that amounted to just 34 yards through the air. Sophomore Talon Beason completed the other to Therion Mordecai for 31 yards. Each threw an interception.
The Tigers also struggled with their usually reliable run game, only putting up 100 yards even, rushing on 22 attempts. They were averaging 237 yards rushing a game over the prior six games.
Friday night’s game was not only the lowest rushing total the Tigers have put up all season, but it was also the only game in which they haven’t scored a rushing touchdown.
The 19 points scored by the Warriors was a season-high for points allowed in a single game this season by the Tigers by one point.
Overall, the Warriors secured their fifth victory of the season by putting up 134 more yards of total offense, completing 13 first downs to the Tigers’ five, and most importantly, making no turnovers. 
Friday night’s loss against the Class 2A Warriors was the first game this season the Tigers had faced a team outside their 1A classification. It was also the first in what will be three more road games for the Tigers to finish their regular season of play.
Next up is Oliver Springs (5-2, 5-0), who is on a five-game winning streak after losing their first two games.
The Tigers now have six wins, one loss.
Three games left.
144 miles down; 149 to go.
