On Friday, August 25th, the 2017-2018 Tiger football season kicked off on Oswego’s home field. The bright stadium lights and screaming fans certainly brought on that Friday night feeling we’ve been waiting for: it’s football season.

Every sports fan knows both teams can’t walk away with a W, with that, it’s indisputable that the Tigers and Wolves gave us a heck of a game. Yes, the Tigers fell short 36-20, but their intensity and will-power was unwavering all four quarters, and that in itself is a win. Senior tight end/wide receiver TJ Neal knows the team can accomplish more this year than those previous. “I want this team to do bigger things than we’ve done before,” he stated, “I want us to continue the upward trend of the Joliet West football program and help continue to build the tradition that started up a few years ago.”

To start off the game, the Wolves had kick off and junior wide receiver, Kevon Dorris received the ball and ran it to the 37-yard line. Both teams went back and forth for a while and it wasn’t until senior standout TJ Neal blocked a punt return, that senior Lewis Brass could pick up the ball and run it to the end zone to put the Tigers on the board. With 5:19 minutes left in quarter one, and the extra point good, the tigers were leading 7-0.

Only minutes later, the Tigers punted the ball away, leading the Wolves to receive and have a 21-yard touchdown run, putting them on the board then tying 7-7 with the Tigers. As the first quarter came to an end, you could feel the energy both teams had; the Tigers wanted it.

Second quarter starter started off with both teams fighting for their chance to score. With intense runs and back and forth action, the crowd was already crazy, but when senior Alex Jimenez picked up the ball off a Wolves fumble and ran it in for a touchdown, the crowd got even crazier. With 5:51 now left in the half, the Tigers were now leading 14-7.

Oswego ended up scoring again after the Tigers, but with 5:16 left in the half Omari Ferguson had a huge 80-yard touchdown reception. His speed and strength got him across the field; it was a touchdown all Tiger fans will remember. The Tigers got themselves to 20 points, but the game got away from them and they fell 36-20 to the Wolves.

The Tigers are ready to lock in and focus on the rest of their season. Senior running back, Zeke Tulloch, was disappointed in the outcome, but he knows once they focus more on the positives rather than negatives, they will be successful. “I want people to know that what they saw the first game isn’t how the entire season will be,” Tulloch stated, “We’re a very talented group. Just give us time to work out the kinks.”

The problem of having two equally talented teams playing each other is one must lose, but with determination and a lot of heart, the team knows the mistakes they made and what they need to do to get better. “I want people to know we will accomplish something very big, I can feel it,” Dorris shared, “Yes, we have some little things to fix, but we are a very solid football team that can and will get the job done.” Despite the loss, there is no doubt the Tigers will bounce back and take charge of this season. They play again this Friday at Plainfield South and are ready to get their first season win. The game starts at 7:00 pm, so come out and support the Tigers as they fight the Cougars for the win. Go Tigers!