COLLEGE STATION, TX -- The A&M Consolidated Tigers dropped their high school football season opener to Klein Oak 17-9 on Friday night at Tigerland Stadium.
The Tigers fell behind on the Panthers opening drive. Kwame Koffor connecting on a 34 yard field goal to put Klein Oak 3-0.
In the second quarter a Klein Oak miscue results in Tiger points. Quarterback Nicky Baratti has the ball go through his hands on a deep snap inside the Klein Oak 20. He eventually recovers it in the end zone, where Marshall Strain touches him down for a safety cutting the Panthers lead to 3-2.
After the ensuing kickoff, Consol marches down the field and picks up 7 more points. Darasis Nutall on the reverse scoring from 14 yards out to put the Tigers on top for the first time 9-3.
There was some consideration by new Tiger Head Coach David Raffield to go for two and increase the lead to 7, but Consol takes the sure point courtesy of place kicker Justin Zimmermann and lead it 9-3 with 2:06 left in the first half.
That ended up being just enough time for the Panthers to respond. Baratti leads Klein Oak down the field and scores from six yards out to give K.O. a 10-9 lead with less than 15 seconds left in the half.
In the third quarter, Baratti scores his second touchdown on the night, this time from a yard out to increase the visitors lead to 17-9.
"I'm proud of the kids, they played hard and fast," said Raffield after his Tigers season opening loss.
"We started to turn the corner in the 2nd quarter, but started to make some small mistakes in the second half and got a little tired. It was hot night, the kids gave everything they had," concluded Raffield.
The Tigers will look to rebound next Friday night at 7pm down at the Berry Center in Houston as A&M Consolidated takes on Cy Woods.
