NEW LONDON — On a night filled with penalties and turnovers, the Arp Tigers held off the West Rusk Raiders with a late stop.
The Tigers denied the Raiders' two-point conversion attempt with 45.5 seconds remainining for a 32-30 victory in the District 8-3A Division II opener for both teams.
The Tigers (3-0) were led offensively by Marcalas Johnson, rushing for 77 yards and scoring on a 39-yard touchdown run.
The Tigers quarterback, Kayce Medlock, rushed 10 times for 24 yards scoring a touchdown and a two-point conversion. Arp's Thomas Reese averaged 46 yards punting, twice pinning West Rusk deep into its own territory. Thomas Reese also had two interceptions, returning one late in the fourth quarter 55 yards to the West Rusk 5-yard line to set up a Tiger touchdown.
The Raiders were led by quarterback Dee Starling, hitting 15 of 23 pass attempts for 248 yards. He threw three touchdowns passes with two interceptions.
Nick Ballard rushed 26 times for 90 yards, scoring a touchdown. Breyon Thurman led receiving for the Raiders with three catches for 84 yards and two touchdowns. Kevin Jones had four catches for 96 yards.
The Tigers host Winona next Friday at Herrington Stadium in Arp.