Weather sent the Tyner Academy band packing before Friday night's game at Signal Mountain got started.
But the Rams found plenty of rhythm anyway in a 48-16 win over the host Eagles that was delayed from starting for more than two hours because of inclement weather.
A multipronged running attack led by Shannon Spralls put the Rams (3-0) ahead early and helped them stay in front of an undermanned Signal Mountain (0-4) squad that stayed competitive throughout a penalty-plagued affair.
Though a late score by Tyner induced a mercy-rule running clock, the Rams led just 21-10 when Signal Mountain's Collin Weigert recover a fumble near midfield with 10:05 to play in the third quarter.
Signal could not find a groove offensively like it did in the second quarter and went four-and-out. That's when Tyner began pouring on points, scoring 27 in a row before the Eagles tacked on a touchdown in the game's final minute.
Spralls opened the game's scoring with a 9-yard touchdown that capped a seven-play Tyner drive, and he scored twice more in the first half.
The Eagles showed the ability to move the ball early, but their misdirection running game hit snags at untimely junctures.
Tyner fell on a botched Signal Mountain pitch on the first series of the game. But the Eagles launched an eight-play drive on their second series that Collin Farr finished with a 12-yard touchdown scamper to tie the game at 7.
Spralls answered with a 32-yard touchdown and a 4-yard score after an Eagles punt to make it 21-7.
The Eagles drove into the red zone with a 14-play drive that ate more than nine minutes of clock in the second quarter.
A sack on third down forced Ben Brown to kick a field goal, though, and Tyner retained a two-possession lead entering halftime.
Weigert's fumble recovery infused life into a home crowd that stayed faithful despite the elements, but a full Rams roster wore the thinner Eagles down as the third quarter progressed.
Though Signal Mountain racked up 20 first downs to Tyner's 18 and ran 56 plays to Tyner's 42, the Rams averaged 9.2 yards per play compared to Signal's 4.3.
Contact David Cobb at 423-757-6249 or dcobb@timesfreepress.com