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The battle of the Tigers was no contest at all on Friday night at Callaway Stadium as Troup rolled over Harris County 31-7 in the season opener for both teams.

“For a game one, there were some really, really bright spots, and there were also some rough areas,” Troup coach Tanner Glisson said. “You can fix everything next week but the scoreboard, so we will try and clean up some of the mistakes heading into next week.”

Troup had  to overcome a bit of a slow start as the team had multiple three and outs in the first quarter. The game was tied at 0-0 heading to the second quarter. 

“A lot of times in week one offenses are behind the defenses, and that’s how it was tonight,” Glisson said. “It took us a minute to get going, but I had full confidence that our offense would get going.”

Harris County had its chances to score early after starting a possession at Troup’s 19 following an interception. A pass breakup by Logan Sinkfield at the goal line on third down and a fourth down stop kept the shutout intact.

The Troup offense sprung to life in the second quarter, scoring 24 points to take a commanding lead heading into the break.

Taeo Todd opened the scoring early in the second quarter, running in from 7 yards out after big pass play to Noah Dixon. Troup recovered a muffed return on the ensuing kickoff and turned it into a field goal from McCarty Harrelson from 23 yards out.

Dixon was immense on both sides of the ball and caught his first of two touchdown passes on a 40-yard jump pass from Todd with 5:34 left in the first half.

Dixon got his second with 1:25 left to go in the second quarter when he had to adjust to a tipped pass.

“There is a reason he is going to Clemson, he is a really good football player,” Glisson said. “We are proud of the way he played on offense, and it really couldn’t have happened to a better person.”

Dixon missed the Tigers’ playoff run last season with an injury but returned to the field on Friday and had just as big of an impact on defense at his safety position as he had on offense. 

Todd got his fourth touchdown of the game when he plowed in from 3 yards out early in the third quarter.

The Troup defense was in complete command of the game from the opening to the final whistle.

“Our defense came in with a really good plan, and we were real physical,” Glisson said. “I thought we were solid on that side of the ball all night.”

It was Quin Prather’s first game in charge as defensive coordinator and passed all his tests in week one.

Harris County had another chance to score in the third quarter when the team drove down inside the 15, but Jabari Fannin jumped on a loose ball to get Troup the ball back. Harris County eventually did break the goal line when the game was decided, and there was less than three minutes left on the clock.

Troup starts its season 1-0 and will have to turn around quickly as the Tigers will face Hardaway next Thursday on the road.

“We have been there before,” Glisson said. “Most of these players have played in a ton of games before, so they know they have to take care of their bodies and get ready to go on a short week.”