Tyner’s roster lists Willie Stewart at a generous 5-foot-8, 155 pounds. Regardless, the diminutive junior played a large role in helping the Rams maintain their late-season rally toward a possible playoff run with a 38-6 District 6-AA win at Central Thursday.
Stewart connected with De’Derick Calloway on two long touchdown passes in the first half and also intercepted Purple Pounders quarterback LaDarrius Jackson twice before halftime as the Rams raced out to a 32-0 lead by intermission.
“I just threw it up and put it on the money to let him him run under it and make a play a couple of times,” Stewart said, nodding toward Calloway. “Even after the way we started the season, our goal was still to win the district and get to the playoffs.”
It was Tyner’s third win in its last four games, and the Rams (3-4, 3-1) remain just one game behind district leader Red Bank, which also won Thursday. Those teams face off in the final week of the regular season.
The Stewart-to-Calloway connection began and ended Tyner’s first-half scoring barrage. Their first scoring hook-up covered 41 yards midway through the first quarter and the second covered 55 yards with 15 seconds left before halftime. In between, Calloway returned a punt 34 yarsd for a score and Joseph Sturkey broke free for a 22-yard TD run.