Staff Photo by Dan Henry / The Chattanooga Times Free Press- 8/15/14. Tyner's Chaysen Patrick (7) runs the ball past SBA defenders during the High School jamboree at Finley Stadium on August 15, 2014. Tyner won over Silverdale Baptist with a final score of 14-0. Pedal to the metal
Nobody, maybe not even the parents of the graduates themselves, will be more misty-eyed at Tyner Academy's commencement next spring than football coach Wayne Turner.
That's because 26 of this year's graduating class are football players, and Turner knows how hard they will be to replace.
"It's going to be awful difficult to see that many people go," he said, "because they've worked extremely hard and they're all good people."
But before graduation day rolls around, those senior football players have unfinished business left on the field, where they will try to help turn things around after last year's dismal 2-8 finish.
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TYNER RAMSRegion 3-2AWayne Turner Field, 6836 Tyner Road, Chattanooga, TN 37421Driver’s seat: Wayne Turner (172-91 in 24 years here; 203-113 overall)Road tested: 7 offensive, 8 defensive starters return
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Pump the brakes: While there’s experience and talent for the most part across the board, the biggest cause for concern is the lack of depth in the offensive line and at linebacker. Two of the Rams’ three starting linebackers also start on offense, so they’ll need backups to allow them to come off the field for breaks.
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Route ’15: For a program as consistent as Tyner has been through the years, last season’s struggles are likely just one of those occasional down cycles that all teams go through. There’s too much size, speed and experience back for the Rams to not only challenge for a return to the playoffs but also maybe pull off a few upsets and climb atop the region.
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Taking the wheel: For three years, Shannon Sprawls has shown flashes of ability that would have made him a key contributor for the Rams, but he suffered a season-ending injury in the third game of each of those previous years. If he can stay healthy, expect Sprawls (6-2, 220) to finally live up to his potential at RB and MLB.
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Cruise control: Chaysen Patrick is back after leading the team in rushing last year. He and Juwan Samuels have the speed and quickness to turn any play into a big gain. LB Brandon Jackson and DT Kenrick Fuller, both seniors, should make it tough for opponents to run the ball.
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Backseat driver: An opposing coach said of the Rams, “Tyner is going to be Tyner again. They’ll beat you up pretty good because they’re so physical, and you know that Coach Turner is going to keep running fresh backs at you, trying to wear you down and count on eventually having those fresh legs break a long one when you’re tired.”
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Rearview2014 game resultsAug. 29;Signal Mountain;lost, 35-0Sep. 5;Hixson;lost, 14-7Sep. 12;Ooltewah;lost 35-0Sep. 19;Knoxville Catholic;lost, 55-7Sept. 26;Soddy-Daisy;lost, 46-21Oct. 3;Central;lost, 28-8Oct. 10;Howard;won, 58-19Oct. 17;Brainerd;lost, 33-24Oct. 24;East Ridge;won, 27-3Oct. 31;Red Bank;lost, 24-72-8, 2-4 in District 6-AA
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On the horizon2015 scheduleAug. 28;Notre DameSep. 4;Polk CountySep. 11;at Signal MountainSep. 18;Boyd-BuchananSep. 25;Walker ValleyOct. 2;at Marion CountyOct. 9;at Bledsoe CountyOct. 16;Meigs CountyOct. 23;at Silverdale BaptistOct. 30;at BrainerdRegion 3-2A games in bold
Seniors take up nine of the starting roles on both offense and defense for the Rams this season, and Turner is counting on their experience and desire to bring back the winning ways his program has been accustomed to for more than two decades.
Among the key seniors are two-way starters JaDarius Paris (receiver, safety), Chaysen Patrick (running back, defensive end) and Brandon Jackson (fullback, linebacker). Patrick was last year's rushing leader and Paris can supply a big play on any snap.
"I've never had a senior class this big - not even close," Turner said. "But it should help tremendously because they don't want another season like last year. They're showing good leadership skill all across the board, and they don't want to go out their last year on a sour note.
"They know what to expect and what it'll take to turn things around, and they've all worked real hard to set the example for what we have to do."
Capsule by Stephen Hargis; contact at shargis@timesfreepress.com or follow on Twitter: @StephenHargis