Every so often — whether over the course of a season, a game or even one specific series — a team grows up before your very eyes
That’s the case with Tyner Academy this football season as the Rams have officially turned the corner from a young team that was often its own worst enemy to a bona fide headache to deal with.
That was on full display Friday night, when the Rams rallied from nine-point second-half deficits twice and found a way to extend their streak of wins to four with a dramatic 29-23 victory over a good McMinn Central team.
In a microcosm of their growth this season, the Rams showed maturity by overcoming their early errors that led to the deep hole they found themselves in as the fourth quarter began. Four of their first five possessions ended like this: blocked punt, turnover on downs in their own territory twice, and a fumble they had to pounce on in their own end zone for a safety. There were also six penalties for 35 yards, typically bringing a drive to a screeching halt.
But in three of its final four possessions — all of which produced points — Tyner (5-3, 3-1 TSSAA Region 3-3A) committed just one penalty and overcame it when Tyler Anderson found Lecarrius Moten on a 16-yard touchdown pass to cap a 13-play, 82-yard drive.