Josh Ruble - Jordan Baker - Jacob Highley

It was a long night for the fans on one side of the bleachers on Friday at Tyler Consolidated as the Silver Knights played host to the Magnolia Blue Eagles for the third game of the season, and met defeat for the third time, 40-7.

The Blue Eagles scored early and often in the first half of the game, putting the first points on their side of the scoreboard before two minutes was able to run off the clock. Finally, with no time remaing in the first period of play, the Silver Knights lit up the scoreboard with six points as senior Jacob Highley ran 68 yards for a touchdown. Senior Josh Ruble’s kick gave the home team seven points which capped off their scoring for the game.

Magnolia would go on to score 14 more points in the second quarter and seven in the fourth to take their first win of the season, 40-7.

“Magnolia brought exactly what we knew they would bring,” said Silver Knight head coach, Ryan Walton. “They were big, aggressive and physical, just as we expected, so there were no surprises.”

“And, honestly, we helped them out some by keeping some of their drives alive by not following through on our tackles, not finishing the job. You can’t give a team like that breaks, and we did.”

Magnolia goes for the extra point - Knights defend

Knight Sophomore Jordan Baker started and remained at quarterback throughout the contest, completing three of seven passes for 41 yards.

Senior Swen Scheidenmantel caught one pass for 28 yards and senior Cole Kocher had two catches for 13 yards.

Highley was the leading yard getter for the Silver and Black, rushing 14 times for 94 yards; Baker carried the ball 10 times to gain five yards; and Josh Ruble had four carries for a yard.

Defensively, sophomore Kordell Stewart led the home team with six solo tackles, one assist and batted down a pass; Ryley Warner had five solo tackles and two assists; Jordan Baker, five solo tackles; Cole Kocher, four solo tackles, one assist; Highley, four solo tackles, four assists and batted down a pass; Troy Watson, four solo tackles; Austin Thompson, four solo tackles, one assist and batted down a pass; Scheidemantel had one solo tackle and two assists; Skyler Leasure, one solo tackle; Kyle Frum, one solo tackle, one assist; Ruble, one solo tackle; and Dylan Harter, one solo tackle.

“We saw some good things in this game, but not enough,” Walton said.

“Our kids worked hard and played hard and this was a tough loss for them. It’s tough for the coaches too, you know. But we’re not getting down, not going to hang our heads and give up. We still have the rest of our schedule ahead of us with some tough teams still to play.”

“The only way we’re going to get better is to keep playing the caliber of teams we’ve been playing.”

“We have a short week this week, with a Thursday game, but we’re right back at it, working hard and we’ll be on the field ready for the game when we’re supposed to be.”

The Knights will play at St. Marys on Thursday night this week, due to a scheduling conflict at St. Marys High School. Tyler Consolidated will be looking for their first win as they go up against the 3-0 Blue Devils at 7 p.m.