Being a freshman football player can be tough, but starting and being expected to contribute can be daunting.
Just don’t tell Tyner’s Ledale Lyle.
The Rams’ brace-faced defensive back came away with his first two interceptions, with the second setting up a decisive score, to give TSSAA Class 3A’s third-ranked Tyner a 44-28 home win over Division II-A’s top-ranked Nashville Christian on Friday night.
“I’m really happy that you see the fruits of his labor,” Rams coach Christian Mainor said.
The young defender was taken aside by his position coaches early in the first half for a pair of blown coverages, but in the end, he made up for them.
(READ MORE: Final scores and photos from Friday’s Chattanooga-area prep football games)
“Defensive coaches, when they first told me they thought he could start for us, I thought they were crazy just because he’s a freshman,” Mainor said. “Man, he stepped up big tonight.”
Lyle’s interceptions breathed life into the offense for Tyner (7-1) when the Rams needed it the most. The Rams extended their lead after his first pick that he returned nearly 70 yards before he was pinned down at the 1-yard line. JaDarius Hinton plunged into the end zone one play later to make it 31-21.
The Eagles would respond with a score to cut the deficit to 3 but Tevin Jackson returned the ensuing kickoff 65 yards for a touchdown. Both teams traded punts, and then it was Lyle’s second interception with less than five minutes left in the game that ensured the win.
“My coach, he was telling me to do my job, and he set me up in the right place to get a play on the ball,” he said. “It made me go harder.”
The win over Nashville Christian (5-2) avenges a tough 49-42 loss to the Eagles a year ago for the Rams. It also gave Mainor a chance to reflect on how far his team has come after the Rams were put in a similar situation and lost to Cleveland earlier this year.
“We didn’t step up offensively, and we didn’t step up defensively,” Mainor said. “I felt like that was because of our preparation Monday through Thursday. This week it was a different story.
“Our guys were locked in and focused because they wanted to get back (a win). We have got to prepare like that every single week.”
Tyner now gets a week off before finishing with a pair of Region 3-3A contests against Brainerd and Chattanooga Central. If the Rams are able to defeat them both, they will be the No. 1 seed in their region and host a playoff game.
Contact Robert Holder at sports@timesfreepress.com.