The first play of the game set the tone for the varsity football team’s game against Lafayette on Friday night at OHS.

Wide receiver Antwan Banks (12) fumbled the kickoff, allowing Lafayette to start on the 7-yard line and score less than two minutes later. Banks got injured in the first quarter and left the Tigers to fend for themselves in their 44-27 loss last night (Sept. 25).

“Kinda the same old song for us pretty much,” head coach Arlee Conners said. “Too many self-inflicted wounds, things that we’re doing to ourselves.”

The team’s running game will be significantly affected by Banks’s injury, which Conners called “unfortunate”.

“Key guys go down, and somebody’s gotta step up,” Conners said. “Antwan was big for us, so now somebody’s gotta pick it up for him.”

OHS came back with two touchdowns of their own in the second quarter, making the score 24-13 at half. It was the first time this season that the Tigers did not have a lead going into the second half.

“We just gotta get our mindset right to where we take care of our own business,” Conners said. “Right now we have to find a way to make the other team beat us and not beat ourselves.”

Co-quarterback Bailey Vuylsteke (12) threw all four touchdowns. The team’s next game is at Seckman next Friday (Oct. 2) at 7 p.m. With the loss against the Lancers, OHS is now 3-3.

“It’s never going to be about our opponent. It’s always going to be about us,” Conners said. “Like I told our guys, once we can beat the enemy within, the outsiders don’t stand a chance.”