KINGSTON — On a gusty cold Thursday night the Kingston Redskins and the Tishomingo Indians, both struggling this year, lined up in a game with little more than pride and bragging rights. The field was waterlogged from the last week of rain and the night air was damp.

Although they played their hearts out, the Kingston Redskins came up just a little short in a 36-12 game. The loss mathematically eliminated Kingston from any playoff hopes.

The Redskin offense picked up right where it left off the week before. Continuing to struggle, running the ball with very little up front blocking for quarterback Zach Patterson. Kingston managed only 27 total yards of offense in the first period. With both Chance Teeter and Aaron Jones out of the game, Kingston managed just twenty yards on five carries. Patterson, who failed to complete a pass last week, opened up with one completion out of seven attempts for seven yards.

The Tishomingo Indians came out determined to establish the run. Behind a huge offensive line and running back Seth Parrish, they ran all over the Redskins. Parrish broke a 22-yard run for the first touchdown of the game. Roughly five minutes of game time later, he broke another long touchdown run. This time he galloped 69 yards for the score. The Indians ran the ball 13 times for one hundred 77 yards. Quarterback Laine Bralley completed three of the five first quarter passes that he attempted for 29 yards.

Kingston gave up a safety when a bad snap flew over the head of quarterback Zach Patterson and out of the end zone. It was obvious that coach Greg Mitchell wanted to establish the run early, but with the injuries in his backfield, it proved to be an impossible task. Kingston ran the ball five times for only 12 yards. Patterson completed only one of the nine passes that he attempted in the quarter for five yards. The lone bright spot of the period for the Redskins was when defensive lineman Alex Huddleson landed a crushing hit forcing a fumble that he fell on.

The second quarter looked much like the first had for the Tishomingo Indians.

The running game behind Parrish kept churning out yards. After a long clock eating drive Parrish ran it in from four yards out. Parrish’s back-up, Cole Niblet, got in on the act when he broke a 23-yard touchdown run. Tishomingo ran the ball 16 times for 105 yards. Balley only attempted one second quarter pass, completing it for 12 yards. The Indians rolled into halftime with a 29-0 lead.

Halftime was a pleasant show despite the uncomfortable conditions. Although Kingston was playing for pride only, you would not have known it by watching the band perform. Week in and week out the Redskin marching band performs at competition levels despite the outcome of the football games.

The Tishomingo band played an interesting collection of old television theme songs. Pink Panther, Star Wars, and The Andy Griffith Show were just a few of the tunes that they played.

Kingston received the opening kick in the third quarter but was unable to move the ball. Senior quarterback Zach Patterson was lost in the third with an apparent ankle injury. Opening-day starter Nate McClain came in attempting to jumpstart the faltering Redskin offense.

McClain completed two of the three passes that he attempted for nine yards. The Kingston running game finally came alive with thirty yards on just seven carries.

Tishomingo came out with one thing on their mind, run the ball and eat up the clock. Without attempting a single pass, the Indians gained 66 yards on just four carries, including Parrish’s fourth touchdown of the night, an 11-yard run.

Finally in the fourth, the Kingston Redskins gave their fans a taste of what they could be. Marching downfield the Redskins scored their first offensive touchdown in two weeks when Nate McClain ran it in from 11 yards out. McClain wasn’t done yet when he led the Redskins down the field again this time hitting senior wide out Devine Johnson in the end zone for the 13-yard score. Kingston ran the ball five times for 34 yards, and McClain completed two passes for 24 yards.

The Redskin defense buckled down refusing to give up anything else to the Indians, only allowing two yards of offense. However great of a quarter that it was for the Redskins, it proved to be too little too late.

After the game Mitchell was asked about his thoughts with both Davis and Plainview looming on the horizon.

“At this point all that I can worry about is Kingston, but these are obviously two of the best teams in the state,” said Mitchell.

Coach Mitchell was also asked about his opinion of his teams week to week goals, “We are concentrating on building this program for the future.”