Students filled the bleachers at the Tigard High School stadium on Friday Sept. 13, fully decked in neon. However, the bright colored fan wear did not distract from the football team. Not only did Tigard pull out a 55-26 win against Glencoe, but they also showcased the promising future of THS football.

“We definitely expected Glencoe to be a strong opponent,” said senior Janak Ward. “We played Glencoe last year and we were looking forward to playing them again this year.”

At first, it seemed like the Tigers would have another easy win. Senior quarterback Jett Even and running back Manu Rasmussen provided their team with a strong  start by scoring several times early on in the first quarter. Glencoe managed to carry the ball to the end zone only once.

“The first quarter we played great,” said junior Brady McGetrick, “our offense was so strong.”

The Tigers proceeded into the second quarter with a 28-7 lead. Determined to move even farther ahead of Glencoe, the Tigers scored 20 points with contributions from senior Daren Rodrigues and junior Tyler Walker.

After halftime, the Tigard coaching staff made a decision to allow their rookies and junior varsity players to gain playing experience. Although the Tigers did not advance during the third quarter, they played strong enough so that Glencoe could only pass by them once. Tigard continued to lead 48-13 until Glencoe scored two touchdowns early in the fourth quarter.

“It was great to see a lot of the J.V. players and freshman play,” said McGetrick. “It was fun for them.”

Tigard Senior Justin Alvarizares helped his team secure the win with the last touchdown of the game, finalizing the score 55-26.

“Being able to help my team out is probably one of the best feelings in the world,” said Alvarizares. “I think this week of hard work has payed off and I’m glad that we all got a chance to play.”