Ather Ashton (28) and Nathan Graham (21) set up a reverse on a kickoff return
If the Tigers would have received a grade for their performance in Friday night's 27-19 Missota Conference loss at Red Wing it would have been an "I" for incomplete.
The Wingers (2-0) took advantage of a handful of first half errors by the visitors to build a 19-0 lead and then turned back a strong second half Farmington (0-2) effort to beat the Tigers for the first time since since 2004.
"We're still looking to put together a complete game," coach Mark Froehling said. "This was two different games. In the first half we gave them several short fields to work with and you can't do that in high school football.
"We weren't tough enough in the first half. I don't know whether that's nerves or complacency or just not coming ready to play. You have to show up ready to go."
The Wingers scored all three first half touchdowns on drives starting inside the Tiger 30-yard line. A fumble, a muffed snap out of punt formation, an interception and a couple of untimely penalties all contributed to the first half troubles.
"I think our defense did a pretty good job all night," Froehling said, "especially considering the short fields they had to work with and the fact they were on the field so much."
The game took on another personality after intermission with the Farmington offense asserting itself with several sustained drives led by the running of tailback Athen Ashton and the passing of quarterback Darren Beenken.
Beenken connected with Nathan Graham for a nine-yard touchdown midway through the third period and then Ashton bulled into the end zone from three yards out on the next possession to pull the Tigers to within a touchdown at 19-13.
Momentum seemed to be wearing orange and black but a missed assignment on a third-and-25 from midfield set up what would be the winning Red Wing score.
Beenken hooked up with Austin Bassett on a short touchdown late in game to close the night's scoring.
Beenken put up some more respectable numbers in the loss, completing 16 of 27 throws for 168 yards and two touchdowns. That gives the Tiger junior six TD throws in the first two games.
Seven different players, including Beenken who hauled in a pass from Graham, had receptions. MacKinley Bassett totaled four for 33 yards. Graham had three for 40 yards and Dillon Jones three for 29.
Ashton carried the ball much more behind his inexperienced offensive line and gained 95 yards yards on 20 attempts.
Offensive line coach Pat Hudak said his charges took another step forward on Friday bur cautioned that the unit is still very much a work in progress.
"You have to remember that none of those guys started a varsity a game until last week," he said.
Linebackers Drew Hegseth and Ryan Schoening led a busy Tiger defense with 12 and 11 tackles respectively. Kevin Clifton had six and Mason Auge, Andrew Peterson and Blake Weinand five apiece.
"At Mayo last week we had a good first half and a not-so-great second half," Froehling said. "Tonight it was the opposite. We need to pull it all together for four quarters and that will be our focus as we prepare for a good Chanhassen team next week."
Chanhassen opened its conference season Friday night with a 17-15 loss to defending league champion Shakopee.
