Following a winless 2008 season, the Gray Court-Owings (GCO) Middle School Tigers got their first win in two years as they defeated the Sanders Middle School (SMS) Yellow Jackets 8-0 at Laurens Middle School on Thursday. With a relentless GCO ground game combined with SMS penalties and turnovers, the Tigers proved that they can be contenders this year.

Tiger quarterback Markel Bates scored on a touchdown run at the 3:49 mark in the first quarter and then added more points to the board as he ran in the two-point conversion. Those would be the only points scored in the game, but they would be enough to give GCO an 8-0 win.

“We’re very happy for our kids and are very proud of them,” said GCO Head Coach Jerry Poole after the game. “They worked hard all summer to prove that we can compete. This is a real confidence builder.”

GCO will host Belton Middle School next Thursday and SMS will travel to Hickory Tavern for their second game of the season. Both games will begin at 5:00 pm.