One week after proving it can put away an opponent, Tyner followed that 57-point season-opening win by proving it can also answer after getting punched in the nose. Even when the Rams were punching themselves in the face.
Tyner overcame a laundry list of mistakes and self-inflicted issues to earn a 32-14 Region 3-2A win over stubborn Bledsoe County at Wayne Turner Field on Friday night. The Rams, ranked No. 4 in the latest Class 2A state poll, committed 15 penalties for 130 yards, had three touchdowns called back for penalties and also dropped a couple of would-be scoring passes.
"As well as you played last week, you were two steps worse tonight," aggravated Rams coach Turner told his team immediately after the game. "Your mental attitude and focus were horrendous, your blocking was horrendous and your tackling was horrendous. We've got a lot to clean up before next week."
The Warriors (2-1, 0-1) opened the game with a 14-play, 63-yard drive, converting two fourth downs and a third down along the way and taking nearly eight minutes off the clock before Colby Rogers scored on a 3-yard run.
Two possessions later Tyner tied the game with an eight-play, 55-yard drive, capped by Ronald Neal's 7-yard scoring sweep around right end. Neal put the Rams (2-0, 1-0) ahead with an electrifying 27-yard touchdown run, one play after Martavius Ryals connected with Jeremiah Batiste on a 49-yard pass to set up the score.
"We came out and underestimated them. We can't be doing that," Neal said. "We were able to keep our composure when we needed to. That's one good thing we did."
The Rams pulled away by scoring on their first three possessions of the second half - with a 50-yard touchdown connection from Ryals to Batiste, followed by a 35-yard scoring sprint by RaShun Evans and a 3-yard score by Jeremiah Sawyer.
Tyner, which has won 19 straight over the Warriors, finished with a balanced 199 rushing yards - 118 of which came in the second half - and 169 passing.
Despite having two long touchdown catches brought back by penalties, Batiste finished with five catches for 148 yards.
"Every region game is a rivalry, so we have to expect teams to give us a fight," Batiste said. "But we never gave up tonight. We didn't play our best and we had to rally after we got behind early, but we kept fighting back."
Contact Stephen Hargis at shargis@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6293. Follow him on Twitter @StephenHargis.