The TR Miller Tigers hosted the Houston Academy Raiders in Brewton on Friday night in the third round of the Class 3A playoffs.

The Tigers struggled in the first half of the game against the Raiders, giving up seven points early in the first quarter. That would be their only score of the half, as a strong Tiger defense worked to keep them out of the end zone again.

The Tigers scored their only score of the first half in the second quarter on a run by Myles Johnson after a big play by QB Nathan Commander.

The Raiders would get the ball back on the kick and make great progress all the way to the red zone, where they threatened another score with less than 40 seconds left in the half.

JJ Griffey reached up and grabbed a Raider pass to put the ball back in Tiger possession. With the Tigers getting out two plays before the buzzer, they fail to reach the end zone.

At halftime it was 7:7.

The Raiders got the ball on a kick early in the second half after deferring the throw early in the game. The Raiders’ quarterback suffered an injury late in the first half of the game and did not return to the field at the start of the half. The Raiders struggle against a refreshed Tiger defense and fail to balance possessions, forcing the ball back to the Tigers.

As the Tigers gain possession of the ball, steady movement downfield sets them in motion and Johnson brings the ball into the red zone. But the Raider defense stopped any further progress and the Tigers are forced to turn the ball over on downs deep in Raider territory.

There were strong punts early in the fourth quarter, with neither team able to make big gains.

After a Tiger punt, the Raiders regain control and enter the red zone within 10 yards of the goal line. The Raiders struggled to reach the end zone and settled for a field goal to take a 10-7 lead.

The Tigers used their next possession to their advantage, finding multiple first downs and the end zone during their time with the ball. A TD from Johnson and a good PAT from Garrison Little put the Tigers ahead for the first time, 14-10.

The Raiders responded quickly, getting into the end zone in just three plays after the Tiger kick. With a good PAT, the Raiders regained the lead 17-14.

The Tigers put their best foot forward and worked to get the ball into Raider territory, but the clock would be an enemy next to the Raider defenders. With a game-winning pass, Nathan Commander shoots the ball into the end zone, but the ball is intercepted by a Raider.

The TR Miller Tigers’ season ends with a double zero on the clock, losing 17 to 14 in the third play-off round.