"Fun" wasn't a word that surrounded Signal Mountain's one-win football season in 2016, but the Eagles had plenty of it Friday night at home.
Behind two defensive touchdowns, a couple of field goals and a perfect touchdown pass from senior quarterback Tom Vatter, they defeated Tyner 27-7 and evened their season record at 1-1.
"I thought our defense played lights out tonight. The two touchdowns on their end were really the difference in the game," first-year head coach Josh Roberts said after his first career win. "What we're most proud of is the fight we're seeing from our guys right now. It's a different mentality this year."
A smooth 42-yard field goal by Scott Payne put Signal on top on its first possession, and that lead grew by the end of Tyner's first possession. On just their third play, Rams quarterback Jaylen Bowens attempted a screen pass that went backward and was dropped, but an opportunistic Eagle was there to scoop up the ball and return it to the end zone for six points.
Later in the first quarter, Vatter dropped back on a third-and-long play inside his own 20-yard line and found junior receiver Travion Williams far down the middle of the field for an 85-yard scoring play.
The Rams (0-2) found an answer late in the second quarter when substitute quarterback Martavius Ryals' 63-yard completion set up a short touchdown pass to Jeremiah Baptiste two plays later, but that turned out to be their final dent in the scoreboard for the night.
"We hurt ourselves a lot tonight, it seems like," Tyner coach Wayne Turner said. "Every time we'd get something going, we'd make a mistake. Sometimes that's just a part of the game. I think we're getting better. We're young, so we'll see where we go."
In the second half, a short field goal from Payne and a pick-six from senior defensive back Sam Gault got the Eagles the 20-point margin.
"We're having so much more fun this year," Williams said. "The coaching staff is amazing, and we have a great relationship. We give them what they ask for, and they do the same."
Signal' Eagles will have a short trip next week when they travel to play Red Bank, while Tyner will host Polk County.
Contact John Mitchell at sports@timesfreepress.com.