As the second quarter began, the Tigers owned a 15-0 lead over the Mad Dogs.
On 2nd and 7, Evan went up the middle on a fullback run for only a gain of a yard to the 30. Ralph made sure he didn't break loose.
Then, 3rd and 6 came up. Instead of passing, Coach Woods decided that his favorite quarterback shall keep the ball himself and go for the first down. Deangelo broke the huddle in the usual I-formation with Evan and Darius behind him. Deangelo extended his arms forward and found a good hole to run through. He went into the secondary and picked up the first down. He picked up 16 yards on that play. Vince was credited with the tackle for the Mad Dogs.
On the next play, Deangelo called his own number again and went into Mad Dog territory at the 48. Eugene made the stop but he felt a stinging pain in his leg.
"OWWWWW!!!!!" Eugene screamed. The Mad Dogs were about to lose their best player on defense. Coach Barkin had to call a timeout with 10:19 left in the first half.
The medical staff, where Brian now laid down on a stretch bed, was called out to assist the senior linebacker off the field. Some of the Mad Dog and Tiger players took one knee down to pray for Eugene's safe return. He was escorted to the sidelines in pain. Kenny McCormick, number 52, replaced Eugene on the middle linebacker spot. It was hard enough that they lost Brian, but now Eugene, the heart of the defense? This was not a good day for a Mad Dog fan.
After Eugene left the field, play resumed.
On 2nd and 4, on Kenny's first play, Evan got the handoff from Deangelo. He found an open hole up the middle and picked up another Tiger first down to the Mad Dog 35. It was a gain of 13 yards and Ron and Lee had to combine on the stop. The Mad Dogs were on the verge of giving up 200 yards on the ground.
The next play saw Darius try to run through the middle, but he was stopped behind the line to the 37 for a loss of 2 yards by Greg.
On 2nd and 12, Deangelo kept the ball himself to the left side and found some nice running room for a gain of 8 on the play. Token made the stop.
Ash was then called in for Evan on this 3rd and 4. About 8:59 remained in the quarter. Deangelo then called in another blast play for Ash, his favorite play. He went through the middle. Thanks to a huge block by Dudley, he picked up 9 more yards to the Mad Dog 20 to move the sticks. The Tigers were now using power football.
Darius then picked up 3 more yards to the left before Doug Funnie brought him down on first down.
Second and 7 saw the Tigers run the football down the Mad Dogs' throat. Evan's blast play picked up 2 more yards as Mikey met him at the Mad Dog 15.
On 3rd and 5, with 7:28 left in the quarter, the Tiger coaches called in "4 Option Middle." As the play clock drained to 10 seconds, Deangelo snapped the ball and extended his arms forward. He gave the ball to Evan. At first, it seemed that Evan was trapped, but his 229-pound body shedded one tackler. Then, Ron was trying to drag him down, but Evan dived into the end done. The officials' hand shot up in the air. TOUCHDOWN, TIGERS. That score just knocked the wind out of the Mad Dog crowd.
Kim couldn't believe the events that she was witnessing. The Mad Dogs have not been down by three touchdowns before. Neither could the fans.
As Ted's point after sailed through the uprights with 7:07 left in the first half, the Tigers extended their lead to 22-0 over the Mad Dogs. The drive lasted for 11 plays and 71 yards and consumed over five minutes.
--MID ball--
Ted kicked the ball off to the Mad Dog 11. Ron wanted to return it all the way back. Unfortunately, he only got a 22-yard return to the Mad Dog 33 before Milhouse met him. Penalty flags then flew out.
Oh no, what is it now? Ron feared that it was against the Mad Dogs.
It was against Middleton.
ILLEGAL BLOCK IN THE BACK, NUMBER 52 ON THE RECEIVING TEAM, IT IS A 10-YARD PENALTY FROM THE SPOT OF THE FOUL, FIRST DOWN.
Mad Dog fans booed at that call. Things were not going right at all for the Mad Dogs. The ball moved back to the 23.
Troy Bolton came in for the injured Brian at fullback. Stan barked the play that Coach Barkin called out. Ladario took the place of Ron at tailback.
On the Mad Dogs' first play of their drive. Ladario tried a counter play but was stuffed instantly by the familar Number 16 for the Tigers, Deangelo Young. He lost 3 yards on the play to the 20.
It was now 2nd and 13 with 6:40 left in the first half. Ron tried to run to the left side. Again, he was met with opposition by Damon and was pulled down at the 24 for a 4-yard pickup.
Stan dropped back to pass on 3rd and nine. He spotted a wide-open Carver. Carver caught Stan's pass at the 37 and got out of bounds at the 40. It was the first time that the Mad Dogs moved the chains.
Finally, Kim thought, we can get something going.
Unfortunately, she spoke too soon. On first and 10 from the Middleton 40, Stan tried to find an open reciever but was sacked for the second time in the ball game, this time by Jarred for a loss of 10 yards. The Mad Dogs were going backwards on the ground.
On a long 2nd and 20, Ron was finally able to have at least some running room. He was able to pick up 11 yards to the Mad Dog 41 before Evan and Dontrell Avery comboed in on the stop for South Panola.
With 5:13 remaining in the half, Stan tried to find Carver but his pass was broken up by Hector, so the Mad Dogs were forced to punt, again, for the fourth time.
David punted from his 41 to the Tiger 22, where Deangelo was waiting to return. Deangelo fielded it at the 22 and swerved by one set of Mad Dog defenders. There was a huge running lane in front of Deangelo. He simply turned on the jets and was off to the races.
"HERE COMES DEANGELO YOUNG!!" the South Panola PA exclaimed.
"TOUCHDOWN, TIGERS"
Ron could only watch in horror as the all-purpose quarterback went into the end-zone for another Tiger touchdown, this time on a 78-yard punt return. The referee's hands shot up in the air. All the star tailback could do was to pound his fist on the bench. The Mad Dogs were not enjoying this night at all. Damn! Why can't we contain number 16?? WHY? Ron yelled to himself. It feels like the Mad Dogs defense was frozen, just unable to do anything to stop this juggernaut offense.
In the visiting press box, John heard the sound of shoes stomping the ground. It was from the Middleton assistant coach, Coach Taylor, in frustration.
Kim was at a loss of words. The Mad Dogs have never been down by four touchdowns before. Her worst-case scenario of playing her harmonica in a sad tone was coming true right before her eyes. The Mad Dog cheerleaders, including Kim, tried to pump up the crowd in the first half, but, again, South Panola knocked the wind out of them.
Coach Barkin was very angry.
Meanwhile, Tiger fans celebrated as the fight song continued to play. Ted added the point after with 4:47 left in the half. The scoreboard now read: South Panola 29, Middleton 0.
--MID Ball--
As the kickoff teams made their way to the field, the Mad Dogs had to find some spark quick to get themselves out of this 29-point hole.
Ted kicked it off to Carver at the 7; Carver returned it to the 22 for 15 yards as Blaise and Chazz Princeton gained credit for the stop for South Panola.
Middleton began its next drive at the 22, hoping to get something started.
On first down, Coach Barkin showed the power I formation with Ladario, Troy, and Ron behind Stan. Stan handed the ball off to Ron up the middle. He found a good block by Devon and picked up an 8-yard gain to the 30. Evan made the stop.
The clock now read 4:18 left in the half and Middleton had only one timeout left. The Mad Dogs showed that same formation. Stan handed the ball off to Ladario and picked up 16 more yards to the Mad Dog 46. Dontrell made the stop. A Mad Dog first down.
There's still hope, Kim thought.
On first down, Ron tried a run up the middle but was stuffed by Evan and Russell for a loss of 1 yard to the 45.
Then on second down, Coach Barkin called in "7 Counter Middle". Ron would have to run a counter up the middle through the heart of the defense. 3:31 remained on the clock. Stan snapped the ball with 2 seconds left on the play clock. Ron found a rare open hold and went up the middle and broke loose. Only Tristian Gray brought him down at the South Panola 31. It was a gain of 24 yards and a Mad Dog first down.
Kim cheered on for Ron with her golden pom-poms, Yes, that's my Ron. The cheerleaders led on a chant "Let's go, Unstoppable!! Let's go, Unstoppable!!"
On first down after Ron's big run. Stan did a quarterback draw and picked up 3 more yards to the Tiger 28. About three minutes remained in the half. Bart and Jarred shared the tackle.
Second and 7 for the Mad Dogs saw Ron as a wide receiver. Barkin called in "7 deep route". Stan dropped back to pass and found Ron to the Tiger 11. He ran out-of-bounds to stop the clock at 2:17. Kim and the cheerleaders continued to cheer on their most favorite player on the team.
On the next play, however, it changed the momentum for good. Stan was hit hard at the Tiger 13 by Marvin and lost the football. Evan scooped it up and returned it 9 yards to the Tiger 22. Ron made the stop, but it didn't matter. South Panola has forced a turnover on the Mad Dogs. That one chance of scoring has ended.
The Middleton fans groaned in continuing frustration. Kim's golden pom-poms were in a downward stance. The Mad Dogs have never been in a situation in which their opponent has complete control of the game. Their sitch was becoming worse by the minute.
--SP ball--
After the turnover, the Tigers continued to milk down the first half clock with 2:08 left.
On first down, Darius went up the middle to pick up 6 yards to the Tiger 28 before Kenny was able to bring him down. The chances for a Mad Dog win were getting dimmer and dimmer.
On 2nd and 4, Deangelo tried his quarterback draw to the left but was unable to find any good holes and was stopped for no gain by Doug and TJ. If that wasn't enough, another Mad Dog was down. This time, it was Greg Goldberg, the senior defensive end. The Mad Dogs had to spend their last timeout with 1:11 remaining in the half for the injury. Their sideline was now becoming a medical ward. Greg was suffering from a bruised hand. He would be out of the game and the series for the next two games. His backup, Butters Stotch, took his place.
On 3rd and 4. Evan tried his usual blast play but was pulled down from behind by Jimmy for a loss of 2. The Tigers had to punt.
Ash's punt traveled 37 yards to the Mad Dog 33. Ron was waiting for the return but he only advanced 2 yards before Viktor easily brought him down.
--MID ball--
Middleton had the ball with 50 seconds left with no timeouts.
On 1st and 10 from the Mad Dog 35, Stan's sack problem became worse. He suffered his fourth sack of the ballgame, this time by Russell. He was brought down for a loss of 7 by number 43 for the Tigers at the 28. The Tiger subs on the sidelines continued to pump up the crowd while the Mad Dog fans suffered a case of severe disappointment with their team. Coach Barkin was not in a happy mood and he will have a long speech to deliver to his troops during the halftime show.
With no timeouts and 24 seconds remaining, Stan had to drop back for a Hail Mary pass. He threw the ball with all of his might, and it landed ... into the hands of Dontrell Avery for the Tigers. An interception by Dontrell at the Tiger 41; Dontrell returned it to the Tiger 49 with 11 seconds remaining.
--SP ball--
On first down, Deangelo handed it off to Evan up the middle for no gain as Ralph made the stop, but it didn't matter.
The two teams headed towards their respective locker rooms.
The halftime score was: South Panola 29, Middleton 0.