Postgame article brought to you by Clubhouse Pizza in Ney.
Eight times since 2003 the Archers have made the trip over to Tinora High school, only to be defeated each time. The last time the Archers defeated the Rams home or away was way back in 2003, that’s 18 straight defeats at the hands of the Tinora Rams.
Coach Hale and the Archers entered as the #12 ranked team in DIV VII, bringing with them a 4-0 record, 1-0 in GMC play.
Coach Krouse and the Rams came in with a 3-1 mark, also 1-0 in conference play.
The high-powered Archer offense, averaging 52 points per game, took little time in putting points on the board as Carson Altimus hit Landon Brewer for a 56 yard gain, it set the Archers up inside the Rams 20-yard line.
Antwerp took the opening kickoff and 73 yards in 6 plays, Reid Lichty’s five yard touchdown run put the Archers up 7-0 against a stingy Rams defense.
The teams traded blows throughout the next quarter and a half also trading turnovers.
After a Tinora interception by the Archers Carson Altimus, Antwerp drove 75 yards for a score as Altimus hit Cam Fuller with a 31 yard touchdown strike with :32 seconds left in the half, the Archers took a 14-0 lead into the locker room.
Seeming moving the ball at will in the half, Carson Altimus was 12-19 for 180 passing in the first half. Tinora’s ground game accounted for 76 yards in the half.
As the second half started, the Rams exited the locker room with a burst of energy not seen in the initial half.
Dominic Graziani returned the kick to the 45-yard line to kick-start the Rams in the second half.
Gavin Eckert and the Rams rushing attack of Dallas Dochenhaus drove 75 yards for the tying score, Eckert taking it in from 1 yard out, cutting the Archers lead to 14-7 with 8:33 remaining in the third quarter.
On the ensuing Antwerp drive, the Rams forced a fumble, recovering the ball at the Archer 23-yard line with 7:41 in the third quarter.
Again, Dallas Docenhause and Eckert drove the Rams to the one-yard line where again, the Tinora QB Gavin Eckert took it in from one yard out, the Jacob Bishop extra point tied the game at 14-14.
An exciting fourth quarter saw both teams trade possessions, After a nearly six-minute drive for the Rams ended with a punt, the Archer attack took the ball over at their own 21-yard line with 6:49 left in the fourth quarter.
What ensured for Antwerp was drive 18 years in the making. Carson Altimus drove the Archers 79 yards, capped, by an Altimus spectacular five yard TD run. The XP kick was blocked, the Antwerp Archers lead the Rams 20-14 with 3:21 left in the game.
After the Rams Gavin Eckert returned the kickoff to their own 45-yard line, the Tinora offense took over with 3:15 remaining.
Gavin Eckert drove the Rams down to the Antwerp 40-yard line with 1:36 remaining. Eckert had to exit the game because of injury after a muffed snap.
Enter Rams sophomore QB Dominic Graziani. Graziani handed to Dacenhaus for a huge gain down to the Archer 20-yard line with 40 seconds remaining.
Tinora could get no further than the Antwerp 16 as a fourth down pass into the end zone was kicked down by the Antwerp’s Parker Moore with nine seconds remaining.
Carson Altimus and the Archers ran off one play as they celebrated a victory over the Rams for the first time in nearly two decades.
With the win, Antwerp remains undefeated at 5-0, 2-0 in the GMC. Antwerp will host Fairview next Friday night.
Tinora falls to 3-2, 1-1 in conference play. Tinora travels to Wayne Trace next Friday to take on the Raiders.
Listen back to the existing game below:
Antwerp 53 plays, 354 yards, 25 first downs
Tinora 60 plays, 245 yards, 19 first downs
Antwerp rushing – Altimus 8-39; Lichty 11-27; Fuller 1(-3).
Tinora rushing – Dachenhaus 29-183; Eckert 11-14; Anders 7-25; Gustwiler 1-11; Sweinhagen 1-2; Graziani 1-(-8).
Antwerp passing Altimus 19-33-286-0.
Tinora passing Eckert 2-5-11-1; Graziani 1-4-10-0.
Antwerp receiving-Brewer 4-102; Fuller 4-85; Lichty 6-60; Moore 6-43; Winslow 1-6.
Tinora receiving– Anders 2-10; Gustwiler 1-11.
