Bristol Herald Courier | Tim Hayes | Photo Credit: Emily Ball
Sure, everybody knew when the 2025 season began that it was going to take some time for the Honaker Tigers to find their footing.
Several standouts had graduated and more than a few freshmen were being asked to play crucial roles.
Still, the growing pains were still a bit distressing.
Lebanon 49, Honaker 31.
Ridgeview 42, Honaker 0.
Rye Cove 48, Honaker 28.
Those losses against quality foes (that happen to still be playing this weekend) put the Tigers at 0-3 for the first time since 1996 and for 5-foot-6, 175-pound senior linebacker Eli McGlothlin and his teammates that was tough to take.
“The first half of the season, especially the first three games, left a very negative feeling on the team,” McGlothlin said. “But we won a game or two and started to play more as a team, which kept us positive.”
The Tigers were 2-4 after a 22-7 Hogoheegee District loss at home to Chilhowie on Oct. 3 and senior wide receiver Avery Musick suffered a season-ending knee injury in that game.