Tigers crush season remaining undefeated

After a very long wait, the Odessa Tigers picked up right where they left off in 2019 as the two-time reigning state champions in the 1B classification. The Odessa football juggernaut carried on into 2021, as the team remained undefeated during the brief five-game season that ended last week with wins over Pomeroy and Republic.

Pomeroy Pirates

On March 9, the Tigers faced Pomeroy at home, winning 94-6. Senior running back Pilot Weishaar once again did the heavy lifting for Odessa with 352 yards rushing in 14 carries and scampering across the goal line for six touchdowns. Daeton Deife carried the ball seven times for 94 yards rushing and three TDs. Davey McMillan also had a rushing TD. Senior Tim DeWulf had 110 yards receiving, including one TD, and freshman Zach Claassen totaled 80 yards receiving on a single TD pass. Senior quarterback Jett Nelson completed three of four pass attempts for 155 yards gained.

Pomeroy

0 6 0 0 6

Odessa

40 24 16 14 94

Defensively, DeWulf had five solo tackles and seven assists. Senior Keith Strebeck had five solos and two assists and fellow senior Chase Kissler had two solos and two assists.

Republic Tigers

Saturday's season-ending game was a shutout against the Republic Tigers played at home on Finney Field. QB Nelson led the offense with 182 yards passing and 27 yards rushing for 209 total yards. He also had 61 yards in kickoff returns and 35 yards in punt returns. Weishaar had 165 total yards, 135 rushing and 30 receiving. Weishaar and DeWulf each scored 24 points. DeWulf had four TDs, and Weishaar had three TDs and six points in conversions.

Republic

0 0 0 0 0

Odessa

46 16 16 0 78

On defense, DeWulf once again led the attack with 10 tackles, five solo and five assists, and he was matched by PF Finch with 10, of which three were solo and seven were assists. K. Strebeck got to the Republic QB for the sack and also picked up two points with a safety.