ANTWERP: From the opening kickoff to the final whistle, the visiting Rams gave the undefeated Antwerp Archers all they could handle before falling to the Archers, 32-14.
On a fantastic Friday night for football, the Tinora Rams brought their 2-2, 1-0 GMC mark over to take on the #12 team in D7, the Archers of Antwerp. Antwerp entered at 4-0, 1-0 in conference play.
The Archers wasted little time to get on the board, scoring in the first 1:45 of the game as Carson Altimus hit Landon Brewer for a 45 yard TD, after the two point conversion pass from Altimus to Brewer was successful, Antwerp grabbed a quick 8-0 lead at the 10:45 mark.
The Rams marched down the field at the end of the first quarter, getting inside the Antwerp 10-yard line, still trailing 8-0.
As Tinora looked to get back in the game, the Archers Carson Altimus stepped in front of a Dominic Graziani pass, taking it 98 yards the other way for an Antwerp score, putting the Archers on top with a 14-0 lead with 1:45 remaining in the first stanza. The two-pint XP attempt by Antwerp was no good.
The Tinora ground attack seemed to control the ball, and the clock throughout then first half, finally finding pay dirt with 9:05 remaining in the second quarter as Joey Guisinger pounded it in from a yard out, putting the Archers lead to 14-6. Jacob Bishop added the XP, cutting the lead to 14-7.
Midway through the second quarter, Antwerp’s Carson Altimus took it in from four yards out, giving a 20-7 lead. The XP again was no good for the Archers at the 5:07 mark of the half.
Again, Tinora would drive down the field, marching all the way to the Archers one-yard line. The Tinora offense would face a fourth and one with just over 60 seconds remaining in the half. The Antwerp defense stood up Tinora’s Graziani, holding the Rams out of the end zone, keeping the 20-14 as the teams headed to the locker rooms.
Tinora started with the ball to start the second half after an Archers onside kick went awry. The Rams again drove down the field on the Archer defense, as Tinora’s Graziani found the end zone from four yards out at the 8:13 mark of the third, cutting the Antwerp lead to 20-14 after the Bishop XP.
Antwerp just wouldn’t let the Rams get back in the game. On their ensuing drive, Carson Altimus took it off right tackle untouched for a 46 yard TD, giving the Archers a 26-14 lead. The two point conversion again was no good for the Archers.
Tinora accumulated 206 total yards in the half, out gaining Antwerp who had 146 yards
Still in the game late in the third, Tinora again found themselves deep in Archer territory, this time at the Antwerp 15-yard line. In a game that the Rams literally could not catch a single break, Tinora’s Graziani tried to hit Grady Gustwiller out of the backfield with a swing pass.
Unfortunately, the pass was ruled a lateral, and was picked up by the Archers Cam Fuller, who raced 85 yards for another Antwerp defensive score, putting the arches on top 32-14. The Archers again missed the two-point attempt.
The fourth quarter saw each team trade a few possessions, but neither team could get on the scoreboard, the game ended with the Archers remaining undefeated, 32-14.
Tinora Rams 0-7-7-0 = 14
Antwerp Archers 14-6-12-0 = 32
ANT Brewer 45-pass from Altimus (Brewer pass from Altimus)
ANT Altimus 98-interception return (conversion failed)
TIN Guisinger 1-run (J Bishop kick)
ANT Altimus 4-run (conversion failed)
TIN Graziani 3-run (J Bishop kick)
ANT Altimus 46-run (conversion failed)
ANT Fuller 85-fumble return (conversion failed)
Tinora stats coming soon.
Antwerp passing: Altimus: 9-15-142-1 TD
Antwerp rushing Altimus: 10-68 yards; Lichty 9-4 yards
Antwerp receiving: Brewer 3-87-TD; Fuller 3-32; WInslow 2-15; Lichty 1-8
Tinora falls to 2-3, 1-1 in conference play. The Rams will host Wayne Trace on Friday.
Antwerp improves to 5-0, 2-0 in the GMC. The Archers will travel to Fairview next Friday.
