For the first time in two years, Tyner has entered the state football rankings.
The Rams are ranked 10th in Class 3A in this week’s Associated Press poll. That’s two notches behind Howard, which will host Tyner on Friday with the District 6-AA championship on the line.
For a while it was commonplace to see the Rams ranked, “but not here lately, at least the last couple of years,” Tyner coach Wayne Turner said. “A lot of it is getting off to a bad start because of who we play.”
The Rams have rebounded with six straight wins after losing their first two games at Class 6A Ooltewah and at undefeated Baylor.
“We turned it over six times, and three of them were pick-sixes [interception returns for scores] after we had an 18-0 lead in the first five minutes of the game,” Turner said. “We quit playing and Ooltewah outplayed us the rest of the night, and that’s the truth.”
Baylor is ranked No. 1 in Division II-AA. The Red Raiders broke from a 14-14 halftime tie to a 35-14 victory over the Rams.
“They ran the [second-half] kickoff back to our 20 and scored to make it 21-14,” Turner recalled. “They kick off and recover the fumble at our 20, and a minute later it’s 28-14 and then we fumble again, and in about a five-minute span to start the third quarter, it went from 14-14 to 35-14,” Turner said.
“That one came down to turnovers. Turnovers are part of the game. We didn’t create any, but we sure manufactured some.”
Like most coaches, Turner downplayed the importance of a state ranking, saying the only time it matters is where you’re ranked in the end, “and that’s only if it’s No. 1.
“In years past we’ve been ranked No. 1 during the season and didn’t win it all. I guess it’s good for the kids because it gives them something to talk about.”
Turner also said the ranking was for the program because Tyner hasn’t been ranked the last couple of years.
“It shows, maybe, that we’re coming back to where we once were.”
Contact Ward Gossett at wgossett@timesfreepress.com or 423-886-4765.