HAVILAND – Gone, but not forgotten, seemed to be the theme for the Rams Friday night.
As the Tinora Rams headed to Wayne Trace to take on the Raiders, the Rams received some of the best news of the season, Javen Gaines was set to make his 2022 debut, and boy did he, more on that later.
The Tinora Rams and the Wayne trace Raiders kicked off a beautiful night of football on a gorgeous Friday Night.
Tinora, 3-2, 1-1 in the GMC, was coming off a tough defeat vs Antwerp last Friday, while the Raiders entered at 2-3, 1-1 in conference play.
Coach Matt Holden and his Raiders were looking to make a mark on the first series of the night. Facing a fourth and 11 from their own 24-yard line, coach Holden rolled the dice on a fake punt. The Rams duo of Kadyn Radzik and Grady Gustwiller had other ideas as they stopped Raider punter Derrek Dangler short of the first down.
The Rams took over at 7:45 remaining in the opening quarter at the Wayne Trace 28-yard line. After sophomore Dominic Graziani started at QB for Tinora, senior Gavin Eckert entered a few plays later and took it in for a 1 yard touchdown, Jacob Bishop added the XP for a 7-0 Rams lead at the 4:47 mark in quarter one.
The Rams again took over right before the end of the first quarter, with Graziani back under center. One more of the more exciting plays of the season, Graziani, scrambling for his life, hit Brandon Edwards with a 33 yard touchdown with 1:23 in the first quarter. The XP was no good, Tinora took a 13-0 to the second quarter.
Edwards was back after missing last week vs Antwerp.
With Javen Gaines and the Rams defense seemingly all over the field, Tinora seemed to dominate the first 18 minutes of the first half. Unfortunately for Tinora, four minutes remained in the quarter.
As Jacob Bishop lined up to punt from the Wayne Trace 48, the Raiders brought a mass rush, blocking the Bishop punt and returning it for a Raiders touchdown. Grady Gustwiller blocked the Wayne Trace XP, Tinora led 13-6 with 3:37 remaining in the half.
Tinora marched downfield right before the half, getting to the Raiders 22-yard line, before a fumble thwarted the Tinora drive.
The teams headed to the half with the Rams clinching that 13-6 advantage. The Rams, who seemed to control the first half, mounted 163 yards of offense on 43 plays, while the Tinora defense limited the Raiders to just 5 total yards in 20 plays.
In the second half, teams traded punches up and down the field. Again, as in the first half, that man, Tinora DL Javin Gaines seemed to be a caged tiger.
With Raiders driving in the middle of the fourth quarter, Rams DB Brandon Edwards came up with a high wire act play, intercepting a Wayne Trace Cole Morehead pass at the Tinora one-yard line, preserving the Tinora 13-6 lead with 6:42 remaining in the game.
Backed up in the shadows of their own goalpost, the Rams looked to go on one of their patent ground and pound drives. With Gavin Eckert back at QB for the Rams, Tinora moved the ball to their own 25 before penalties set them back to the Wayne Trace 15.
Faced with a fourth and nine, Rams punter Jacob Bishop boomed a punt from his own five-yard line to the 45. The Raiders had the ball and still trailed 13-6 with 2:05 left in the fourth quarter.
As we’ve seen several times this season, it was time for the Rams defense to make its mark.
The host Raiders drove to the Tinora 18 yards line. Out of timeouts and facing a fourth and five, the Tinora defense held the Raiders to just a one yard gain.
Tinora took one final snap in victory formation, the Rams came away with a hard-earned 13-6 win.
Tinora improves to 4-2, 2-1 in the GMC. The Rams will face Ayersville nest Friday at Tinora. Make plans and get out to see the River Rivalry.
Wayne Trace falls to 2-4, 1-2 in the GMC. Wayne Trace will host state ranked Antwerp next Friday.
The Higbea Embroidery Player of the game went to Rams defensive lineman Javen Gaines. Gaines playing in his first game all season causes havoc all night long. Congratulations, Javen.
Gaines was also the My Sports Live player of the game, see below.
Thanks to the great crew of My Sports Live for all the great hospitality tonight, a great crew!
Stats:
Tinora 43 plays for 163 total yards. 126 Rushing, 37 passing, 16 first downs
WT 39 plays for 87 yards. 5 rushing, 82 passing, 12 first downs
Passing
THS Eckert/Graziani 3-3 37 yards 1 TD
WTHS Morehead 12-19 -88 yards -1 int
Rushing
THS Edwards 18 for 99 yards; Dachenhaus 11 for 35 yards; Eckert 7 for 22 1 TD; Anders 1for 4 yards; Graziani 3 for 5 yards.
WTHS Morehead 15 for 19 yards; Dangler 1 for 4 yards; Antone 2 for -12 yards;
Receiving
THS Edwards 2 for 38 yards 1 TD; Anders 1 for 11 yards
WTHS Antone 4 for -2 yards; Sinn 3 for 5 yards; Stoller 1 for 24 yards; Price 2 for 4 yards; Dangler 2 for 51 yards
