Postgame article brought to you by Clubhouse Pizza in Ney.
LIBERTY CENTER: On a beautiful sunny 80 degree evening from Rex Lingruen Stadium at Kip Kern field, the Liberty Center Tigers showed why they have the potential to be one of the top teams in the NWOAL.
Liberty Center entered coming off an 11-3 season, 7-1 in the NWOAL, while also losing the conference defensive player of the year, Owen Johnson.
The Rams, coming in off a solid 10-2 season and a 2021 GMC Championship, were hit hard with graduations. Tinora saw 11 seniors depart, including two GMC players of the year on offense and defense in KP Delarber and Baeden Hancock, as well as long time QB Nolan Schafer among others.
As the first quarter unfolded, both teams traded punches after their initial two drives. At the 5:48 mark in the opening quarter, the Rams were backed up inside their 20. Facing a fourth and long, a high snap over the head of Rams punter Jacob Bishop put the Rams defense against the wall as the Tigers took over first and goal from the Tinora four-yard line.
The Tigers wasted little time as LC’s Mathew Orr took a Zane Zeiter handoff in for a four yard touchdown, giving the Tigers a 7-0 after an Ian Rosebrock XP at the 5:45 mark.
Tinora looked to even the score on their next possession as senior QB Gavin Eckert hit Kadyn Radzik for a 45 yard pass completion, setting the Rams up with a first and ten at the LC 30-yard line. The stout Tiger defensive line would stop the Rams on the next four plays, holding the Rams scoreless.
With 2:35 remaining in the first quarter, the Tigers Colton Kruse went 70 yards down the left sideline, giving LC a 14-0 lead after the XP was good by Rosebrock.
Midway through the second quarter, second team NWOAL back Mathew Orr took a Zeiter handoff 70 yards for another Tigers touchdown, increasing their lead over the Rams, 21-0 after the XP by Rosebrock.
The Tigers would take the 21-0 lead over the Rams into the half. Liberty Center would out gain the Rams in the opening half, 272 to 72.
The second half would see the Tigers show their muscle vs the Rams.
Colton Kruse would score his second TD of the contest, this time hauling in a 13 yard pass from Zane Zeiter with 8:23 remaining in the third quarter. Liberty Center would grab a 28-0 lead over the Rams.
The Tigers would end the scoring with an Ian Rosebrock 19-yard field goal at the 7:08 mark in the final quarter, giving the Tigers a 31-0 lead.
Liberty Center would out gain Tinora 418 to 104 in total yards. The Tigers pounded the Rams with 333 yards rushing.
The Tigers held the Rams offense to 104 total yards.
1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
Tinora 0 0 0 0 0
LC Tigers 14 7 7 3 31
Stats TIN LC
First Downs 7 21
RUSH/YDS 30/46 37/353
PASS/YDS 5/15/58 7/10/85
TOTAL YDS 45/104 47/418
PENALTIES 1/5 1/10
TINORA
Passing: Eckert 5/14 56 Yds 0/0; Graziani 0/1
Rushing: Edwards 10/28; Eckert 9/3; Anders 1/9; Dachenhaus 2/5; Sweinhagen 1/1; Ferrell 5/12; Jimenez 3/-2
Receiving: Radzik 1/31; Anders 2/16; Travis 1/2
Liberty Center
Passing: Zeiter 7/10/85 yds; Miller0/0
Rushing: Zeiter5/56; C Kruse 5/79; Orr 9/103; Chapa 1/3; T Kruse 5/39; Rentz 5/21; Moehler 2/9; Rohrs 1/2
Receiving: C Kruse 3/23; Chapa 2/26; Hammontree 2/20; L Kruse 1/8; Chambers 1/18
Tinora falls to 0-1 and will host Wauseon next Friday night.
Liberty Center moves to 0-1 and will host Napoleon on Friday.
Thanks to everyone at Liberty Center who showed us nothing but first class hospitality.
Audio replay at https://tinoraramssportsaudio.com/past-games/
