LIBERTY CENTER: The Tinora Rams loaded up the buses and headed 23 miles northeast to take on the defending OHSAA DIV V state champion Liberty Center Tigers,

In the 36th and final regular-season meeting, the Rams’ last win in the series came in 2015, while the host Tigers held a 29-6 advantage.

Having scored on the very first offensive play of the game the previous three seasons vs Tinora Liberty Center, the Tigers waited until the second play of the game this season.

Tiger defensive back Ethan Gray picked off an Owen Ferrell pass and raced 12 yards for the Tiger TD, 44 seconds into the game. The Max Perry XP gave the Tigers a 7-0 lead with 11:16 remaining in the initial stanza.

Liberty Center would strike again at the 5:56 mark as Penn commit Jaxton Lawniczak would score on a bit of trickery as sophomore starting QB Jack Badenhop pitched to Garison Kruse, who would pitch it to Lawniczak, who would race 54 yards for a score and a 13-0 lead. The Perry XP increased the Tigers lead to 14-0.

The reigning DIV V Player of the Year, Garison Kruse, would take a 54-yard handoff to start the second quarter for a 20-0 advantage; the Perry XP increased the lead to 21-0 with 11:42 in the half.

The Tigers quickly added to their scoring as Lawniczak hauled in a 35-yard score from sophomore QB Jack Badenhop; the XP gave Liberty Center a 28-0 lead with 10:25 remaining in the second quarter.

Jack Badenhop’s 47-yard scamper through the Rams’ defense added to the Tigers score; the XP was unsuccessful, and the Tigers led 34-0 at the 7:45 mark of the initial half.

The Rams best scoring opportuniny came right before the half as they got inside the Tigers 20 yard line before failing on a fourth down conversion.

Badenhop added more flair to his first varsity start, dashing 19 yards for his second scoring run; the Campos XP gave the host Tigers a 41-0 advantage with 5:48 in the quarter.

The Badenhop siblings teamed up for a 71-yard scoring strike as Jack hit older brother Isaha for a 71-yard score; the XP was missed, and Liberty Center led Tinora 47-0 with 31 seconds in the first half.

With a running clock in play for the entire second half, the scoring was limited to just two touchdowns.

Tryce Westhoven dashed 2 yards for his first score with 5:17 in the third quarter, and a 54-0 lead for the host.

The final score of the game came with 60 seconds remaining in the third as Caleb Lester added a 42-yard run; the XP gave the Tigers a 61-0 lead.

Tinora drops the season opener, falling to 0-1. The Rams will play host to Otsego next Friday night.

The Liberty Center Tigers start at 1-0; the Tigers travel to Eastwood next Friday to take on the Eagles.

The Patriot Outdoors Play of the Game went to Josh Leib as he intercepted Badenhop in the first quarter.

The Tiger defense held the Rams to just 14 yards on 41 plays, while Liberty Center amassed 465 total yards of offense.

Tinora at Liberty Center box score below: