By Randy Winton
sports writer

In the days leading up to T.R. Miller’s football game at Cottage Hill in Mobile last week, the Tigers prepared themselves to play in heavy rains.
With a tropical storm brewing in the Gulf Coast, Coach Jamie Riggs left nothing to chance, even practicing with wet footballs during the week.
When it was all said and done though, the only storm that developed was the one T.R. Miller rained down on the host Warriors. In their first five offensive plays of the game, the Tigers opened up the skies for a downpour of 21 points en route to a 47-0 victory.
The win kept Class 3A’s third-ranked team unbeaten, as T.R. Miller improved to 6-0 overall and 4-0 in the region. Cottage Hill drops to 0-6 and 0-4.
“I like the way we prepared and I like the way we came out and took control of the game right away,” said Riggs following the victory. “To put points on the board early offensively, then watch our defense pitch the shutout made for a pretty good night for us.”
While the offense – which accounted for 417 total yards and 19 first downs – was scoring on its first six possessions of the first half to build a 41-0 lead at the break, the stingy defense was allowing Cottage Hill just 24 rushing yards and 58 through the air, while intercepting three passes.
“I like the way we played with enthusiasm,” Riggs continued. “We were able to get a lot of points early. And, we got to play a lot of young guys and get them some varsity experience. So it was a good night overall.
“We still have a lot of work to do, though. We’ve got Homecoming next week, then Straughn comes in after that, so there is still work to be done to be the team we want to be. We’re working hard and playing hard, and it has paid off so far.”
In leading the offense to its second-straight game where it has rushed for over 300 yards (359 yards on the ground), Dominique Jackson led the way with 136 yards on just five carries, including touchdown runs of 72 and 33 yards. Sophomore Ahmaud Taylor added 111 yards rushing and a touchdown (4 yards) and fellow sophomore Tamerick Jenkins contributed 93 yards and also scored a touchdown on a 16-yard scamper.
The Tigers only faced one third-down situation in its seven scoring drives.
Cottage Hill’s opening drive came to an abrupt end when, on its fifth play of the game Tiger defensive back Kellyn Winn intercepted a pass at the Warrior 41 yard line.
In just three plays, T.R. Miller quarterback Kieon Smith connected with Kameron Coleman for an 11-yard touchdown pass for the game’s first touchdown.
The score was set up after Jackson had runs of 24 and 6 yards. Chardian Johnson booted the first of five PATs to make it 7-0.
The Warriors fumbled on the ensuing kickoff, which Kardarius Jones promptly recovered at the Cottage Hill 20-yard line. Eight seconds later, Smith found Jalen Jones open in the end zone for the 20-yard scoring connection.
Following a Cottage Hill punt on the ensuing possession, Jackson broke free on the first play following and left everyone behind for a 72-yard touchdown run.
In less than six minutes of the first quarter, the Tigers snapped the ball five times and had a 21-0 lead.
The lead jump to 28-0 just seconds before the first quarter ended when Kameron Coleman culminated a six-play, 27-yard drive with a 1-yard plunge into the end zone.
The scoring drive was set up when Winn returned a punt 27 yards inside the Warrior 30.
T.R. Miller scored twice more before the half to make it 41-0.
Jordan Samuel picked off a Cottage Hill pass at the 50 and two plays later, the Tigers found the end zone.
Smith connected with Coleman on a 26-yard pass, then Jackson finished the drive with a 33-yard run.
Ahmaud Taylor put the finishing touches on the first-half tempest, by scoring on a 3-yard run with 18 seconds left.
The TD culminated a seven-play, 50-yard drive.
While the Tigers failed to score in the third quarter (two touchdowns were called back on penalties), they put the final nail in the coffin with 7:42 to go in the game when Tamerick Jenkins galloped in from 16 yards out.
The Tigers return to Brewton Municipal Stadium for the next two weeks. This Friday will mark the Legacy Game and Homecoming festivities as the Tigers take on Southside Selma.
A week later will be the much-anticipated match up with region foe and fifth-ranked Straughn.
Both T.R. Miller and Straughn are currently undefeated in region play and ranked in the top-10 poll in class 3A football across the state of Alabama.