Eighth grade game canceled with Troup trailing Arp, 0-6

Photo/Charlotte Smith Kykee Shanks picks up yardage for the Troup eighth grade team.

The Troup Tiger eighth grade team was in the middle of a close hard-fought battle when the game was called at halftime due to lightning.

Troup was trailing 0-6 when the halftime performance of the Arp Tigers majorettes was stopped and fans were asked to leave the bleachers.

After 20 minutes, it was announced that the game was canceled and the JV game would start at 8:30, weather permitting.

The home team had first possession in the game and picked up a first down thanks to a carry by James Jiles. After advancing to the Arp 45, however, the Tigers stalled and faced a fourth and 10.

Deciding to go for it, the team suffered a QB sack that gave Arp field position on the Troup 49.

Facing third and five, the visiting Tigers scored a 44 yard touchdown for a 6-0 lead. The two-point conversion failed, and Troup trailed 0-6 with 4:12 left in the first quarter.

Fueled by Kykeedrian Shanks' kickoff return, the Tigers started near midfield on their next possession and advanced to the Arp 30-yard line before turning the ball over on an interception to start the second quarter.

Juan Leon made a nice firstdown tackle that set Arp back four yards, and the visiting team quickly faced a fourth and long and were forced to punt.

The kick was very short and Troup found itself with excellent field position on the Arp 30 yard line.

Troup quickly moved the ball to the Arp 16 on a nice firstdown run play. After suffering losses on the next two downs, Troup completed a pass to Jiles, but it was short of the first down and Arp took over on its own 19.

The visiting Tigers advanced the ball as the first half wound down.

Facing a fourth and one on the Troup 40 yard line with just nine seconds left on the clock, the Arp QB looked to pass but then was forced to run.

After avoiding one tackle he seemed poised to score, but Troup's Dillon Goar made a touchdown-saving tackle to end the first half, and ultimately the game, with Troup trailing 0-6.

The evening's weather problems also prevented the scheduled halftime performance of the Troup Middle School band and twirlers, a first for TMS.