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Scores and Photos of Friday night high school football - Oct. 2
JASPER, Tenn. - The playoffs are still weeks away.
That's OK with Marion County and Tyner, who played Friday night with Marion's Warriors winning the Region 3-2A game 33-20.
Marion County didn't play up to a state-champion level with three turnovers and allowing one player to make eight receptions for 121 yards.
Tyner didn't play up to a level worthy of reaching the playoffs, losing two fumbles and committing 10 penalties.
But both competed as if they want a spot to chase down a state championship.
"We knew that we needed this game for the postseason," Tyner senior running back Shannon Spralls said. "At halftime it hit us and we knew we needed to try and make a comeback."
Tyner scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns - including one by Spralls - after a touchdown by Marion County's Hunter Zeman gave the Warriors a 33-6 lead.
"We were able to get some guys out so they couldn't get hurt," Marion coach Ricky Ross said. "We were able to get some other guys some really important reps.
"If the final score is 33-20 or 33-13, it's irrelevant."
Zeman, a junior, led the Warriors with 14 carries for 100 yards and a touchdown. Juwan Samuels caught eight passes for 121 yards and a touchdown for Tyner.
"We came out flat after halftime and left them in the game," Marion junior Hunter McClain said. "We should have put them away."
Marion County used 12 plays to march down the field early in the game, but Tyner forced Ross to settle for a field goal. The Warriors finished their next drive when Cory Murray followed the right side of his offensive line into the end zone from 3 yards out.
Then Tyner (3-3, 1-2) showed it can play, too. The Rams converted on fourth-and-2 on their first pass of the night. Emmanuel Ross lofted a 34-yard pass to the left pylon. Juwan Samuels made a dive, extended both his hands and hauled in the touchdown pass.
Tyner senior Chris Hawkins put a quick end to Marion's next drive when he corralled an attempted screen pass that a teammate tipped into the air.
Tyner fumbled to end two of its next three possessions. The second instantly put points on the board for Marion County. A lateral sailed too high near the Rams' goal line and Josh Henderson emerged from a pile and handed the ball to an official before celebrating six easy points for the Warriors.
Marion County (6-1, 2-1) led 20-6 when the bands took the field.
The Warriors defense, which allowed a total of 59 yards in the first half, continued its stout play to start the second half. Their next drive - saved by a roughing-the-passer penalty on Tyner - finished with a 3-yard touchdown run by Jacob Saylors.
Zeman added his touchdown run, which covered 23 yards and left several Rams on the ground. Then Spralls scored from 2 yards out and Jarvan Deloach caught a 33-yard touchdown pass from the Rams' Ross.
"We did some things better tonight," said Marion's Coach Ross. "There are still things we need to work on."
And several weeks before the playoffs.
Contact David Uchiyama at duchiyama@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6484. Follow him at twitter.com/UchiyamaCTFP