Keeping the medal to the pedal was the model for Oakville, as the Tigers jumped out to a 21-3 first half lead and never looked back in route to a 31-3 win over visiting SLUH Friday night.

Tigers head coach Arlee Conners couldn’t say enough about his team’s balanced performance Friday night.

“This is by far the best game we played all year. This couldn’t have come at a better time, said Conners. “We played two good halves, ran and passed the ball well and did a real sound job on defense.”

Tigers quarterback Joe Plassmeyer agreed.

“This is the best game we had so far. We really came together as a team. We played well on both sides of the ball,’’ Plassmeyer said.

According to Conners, the defining moment of the game occurred early in the second quarter as the Tigers were clinging to a 7-3 lead with 6 minutes and 26 seconds remaining in the half, and facing a fourth and inches situation. At that moment, Conners elected not to punt, but to go for the first down.

The Tigers gave the ball to senior running back Paul Taylor who broke free for a 71-yard touchdown dash, his second touchdown on the night, and put the Tigers ahead for good 14-3. The Tigers would go on to close out the first half on a 17-yard Plassmeyer touchdown pass to tight-end Michael Cyliax seconds before the half expired.

While reflecting on the fourth and inches play, Conners said, “We needed that play. If we couldn’t get one inch, then we didn’t deserve to win the game at all.’’

SLUH head coach Gary Kornfeld said it was conversions such as Taylor’s unexpected touchdown that his team could not overcome.

“You got to give credit. They made plays when they counted and they really broke our backs, said Kornfeld.

While holding SLUH to only three points the entire game, the Tigers offense managed 428 total yards. Plassmeyer went 14-19 passing for 147 yards and one touchdown pass and gained 50 yards rushing.

Taylor, who had only five carries, led the ground attack with 87 yards rushing and two touchdown runs. Taylor was joined by junior Darrion Moore who rushed for 79 yards on 17 carries and senior Darnell Cooper who rushed for 50 yards on eight carriers and one touchdown run.

Cyliax was the Tigers leading receiver on the night with seven catches for 80 yards and one touchdown.