Postgame article brought to you by Clubhouse Pizza in Ney.
Heading into the Friday night game vs the Wauseon Indians, Tinora’s Kenny Krouse has marched up and down the sidelines for 25 seasons. In over two decades, coach Krouse has a 71% winning percentage, while accumulating a 178-75 career record.
Coach Krouse picked up win 179 on Friday night at Tinora’s Justin F Coressel Field, and that win may be one of the more satisfying wins in his career.
The high-flying Wauseon Indians, coming in at 1-0, took little time in getting on the scoreboard as they took their opening drive of the game and marched 79 yards as Elijah McLeod hit Sam Smith for a four yard TD. Tyson Rodriquez would put the extra point through for a 7-0 Indians lead at the 9:08 mark in the first quarter.
Wauseon entered with one of the best QB and receiving corps in the area.
With the Rams offense looking to get back on track, Tinora’s Jr defensive back Kadyn Radzik stepped in front of an Elijah McLeod pass intended for Sam Smith, intercepted it and raced 30 yards for a Tinora defensive touchdown. Jacob Bishop added the extra point to tie the game at 7-7 with 2:38 left in the initial quarter. This play seemed to light a fire on the Tinora sideline.
With the Tinora defense putting pressure on the Indians pass attack throughout the first half, the Rams offense took over possession as the half was winding down with 4:47 remaining.
Senior QB Gavin Eckert led the Rams on a 52 yard drive, capping it with a quarterback keeper off the left side for a four yard score with 52 seconds in the half. The Bishop extra point was good, Tinora took a 14-7 lead to the half.
Tinora forced two first half turnovers.
With a fantastic crowd on hand at Tinora High School, The Rams busted out of the locker room looking to extend their 14-7 lead. What they got, unfortunately, was an offensive fumble, recovered by Wauseon at the Tinora 32-yard line with 10:56 in the third quarter.
McLeod and the Indians wasted little time getting back in the game.
Faced with a fourth and goal from the one-yard line, McLeod called his own number, resulting in an Indians TD, the game was tied at 14-14 with 9:11 in the third quarter.
It was time for the Rams to step to the plate on offense, and they did just that over the next two series.
Rams senior RB Branson Edwards took a third and five pitch 60 yards for a Tinora TD, the Bishop XP gave Tinora a 21-14 advantage at the 7:25 mark in the third.
On the next Indians series, the Rams continued their defensive pressure, McLeod was intercepted by Tinora’s Kadyn Radzik for the second time as the pass was intended for Tyson Rodriguez.
The Ram attack wasted little time as Gavin Eckert hit Grady Gustwiller on a short slant, Gustwiller scampered 40 yards for another Tinora TD, the XP was blocked at the line, however the Rams took a 27-13 lead with 2:47 remaining in the third quarter.
The Tinora coaching staff kept the pressure coming over the final 12 minutes, Wauseon could get no closer.
The Indians had two touchdowns called back via offensive penalties.
The Rams ground and pound game took over in the fourth quarter, eating up yards and clock, Tinora limited Wauseon to just four offensive plays, similar to the 2021 Rams win.
Tinora controlled the final quarter, exiting with a thrilling 27-14 victory.
With the win, the Rams improve to 1-1 and will travel to Lima Central Catholic next Saturday for a 4 pm kickoff.
Wauseon falls to 1-1 and will host Napoleon next Friday night, 7 pm kickoff.
The Higbea Embroidery Player of the game went to Kadyn Radzik for his great play on Defense. Congratulations, Kadyn.
Listen to the game, click below:
https://tinoraramssportsaudio.com/past–games/
Stats link:
https://stats.digitalscout.com/football/boys/game/15173618
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