Defense keeps Rams undefeated in District 6-AA

By James Beach

Correspondent

Someone sarcastically asked Tyner coach Wayne Turner if he felt the film from his team’s 14-0 victory over Central on Friday would strike fear in the hearts of anyone.

The veteran Rams boss didn’t hesitate.

“The mere thought of having to watch the film of this game with me running the projector ought to strike fear in every one of our players on Monday,” Turner said. “That was absolutely the worst effort by a Tyner team since I have been here. I don’t know if they thought Central was going to come out here and lie down for us, or what, but we are lucky to have escaped.”

The Rams managed to keep their District 6-AA title hopes alive with a stingy defense that limited the Purple Pounders to 113 total yards. The Rams (6-2, 5-0) have a big showdown with Howard, also unbeaten in 6-AA, looming next Friday.

“We didn’t earn the right, so I hope the kids realize they have a second chance,” Turner said. “Central came to play and we didn’t. It was simple as that.”

Unfortunately for the Pounders (4-4, 2-3), their offense was nonexistent for the 48 minutes of battle. How bad was it? Central’s longest run of the night was a 31-yard scamper by Robert Cobb that wasn’t good enough for a first down. The Pounders were held to 3 yards or less on 26 of 32 rushing attempts, had just three first downs and were limited to minus-2 yards rushing in the second half.

Central gained 133 yards on three plays and lost 20 yards on its other 41 plays.

"I was proud of the way our defense played, but the youth got us tonight,” Central coach Sam Montgomery said. “The kids played their tails off, but we just couldn’t muster anything offensively against them. We just came up short again.”

Tyner scored on its opening drive, going 40 yards in eight plays ending on a 4-yard Dameian Suttles run. After that it was eight possessions before the Rams found the end zone again, with five of them being three-and-outs and two ending in fumbles.

Tyner preserved the shutout thanks to a missed Central field-goal try at the first-half horn, two interceptions and a pass broken up in the end zone by defensive back Iman Jones. The Rams also got a TD-saving tackle from Aven Hunter-Price after a 73-yard completion to Vonn Bell at the Tyner 3, where the Rams stiffened.

The Tyner offense was so stymied itself that injured quarterback Travis Jones was inserted to start the final half despite a bruised knee and a plan to keep him benched unless absolutely necessary. Jones did lead Tyner on a 35-yard scoring drive after Iman Jones’ second pick. Eric Drake scored on a 2-yard burst and Suttles added the conversion run to make it 14-0.