Postgame article brought to you by Clubhouse Pizza in Ney.
The high-flying Edgerton Bulldogs were looking to stay in contention for a Green Meadows Conference title as they traveled over to Tinora to take on the Rams at Justin F. Coressel Stadium in a week 9 showdown on Senior Night, 2022.
Playing in their final regular season home game were seniors Brandon Edwards, Cole Anders, Cole Sweinhagen, Jacob Guisinger, Will Newman, Javen Gaines, and Steven Bohn Jr. Out were fellow seniors Gavin Eckert and Dallas Dachenhaus.
Trailing the Antwerp Archers by one game, and hosting the Archers next Friday night, the Bulldogs came in looking to unleash their offense that averaged 37 points per game as close to 350 yards per contest.
What the Bulldogs offense ran into was a Tinora defense that played at times like the 1984 Chicago Bears defense.
Rams sophomore kicker Jacob Bishop put the Rams on top 3-0 with a 41-yard field goal with 4:08 remaining in the first quarter.
The second quarter would be the Brandon Edwards show. for the Rams Still holding onto that 3-0 lead, the Tinora offensive line would give Edwards the room he needed for a explosive quarter.|
Edwards would find pay dirt with a 14-yard touchdown scamper to start the quarter, the Bishop XP would increase the Tinora lead to 10-0 with 11:53 remaining in the quarter.
Facing a fourth and short from the Edgerton 37-yard line, Edwards took a pitch off the left side and glided in for his second TD of the quarter, the Bishop XP gave Tinora a 17-0 lead at the 5:41 mark before the half.
Corey Everetts and the Bulldogs offense never could get in gear in the first 24 minutes, the Tinora defense limited the Edgerton attack to 41 yards on 22 plays.
Meanwhile, the Rams Edwards gained 105 yards in the second quarter on nine carries, with two scores. Tinora as a team rolled up a season high 215 first half yards.
The second half started with more fireworks from the Rams as sophomore quarterback Dominic Graziani hit Cole Anders with a 53 yard TD on the second play in the third quarter. The pass looked like it was heading into the arms of Brayden Roesti, Anders seemed to come from nowhere to haul in the score down the right sidelines. After the Bishop XP, Tinora grabbed a 24-0 lead at the 11:08 mark in the third quarter.
Edgerton finally got a drive together late in the third quarter, capping off a 68 yard TD drive, capped off by a Corey Everetts 1 yard TD, the XP was no good, the Rams led 24-6 with :58 seconds left in the third quarter.
Tinora used a ball control offense to take control of the final 12 minutes. Grady Gustwiller closed out the Tinora scoring with a three yard TD with 5:17 remaining in the game.
For the game, Edgerton had little success outside the TD drive, the Bulldogs did muster up 95 second half yards, but the Tinora defense did a great job, holding the Bulldogs to 120 yards on 50 plays.
The Tinora offense, which has struggled at times throughout the season, racked up 337total yards on 52 plays.
The only turnover in the game was a Rams Brandon Edwards interception off the Bulldogs Corey Everetts in the third quarter.
With the win, the Rams improve their playoff hopes, moving to 6-3, 4-2 in the GMC. Tinora will close the regular season with a trip to Hicksvill next Friday to take on the Aces.
As of this writing, the Rams are currently 10 in the DIV 5, region 18 standings. The top 16 make the playoffs.
The much anticipated final week showdown between Antwerp and Edgerton lost a bit of luster with the Bulldogs loss, Edgerton falls to 7-2, 4-2 in conference play.
With losses Friday night by Edgerton and Ayersville, Antwerp clinches their first-ever GMC football championship, congratulations to coach Hale and crew.
And big congratulations, and a thank you to Rams chain gang member Jim Harris who’s retiring after 30 years of service on the far sideline crew. (pic below)
The Higbea Embroidery player of the Game award went to Brandon Edwards. Edwards with 2 TD, 143 yards rushing, and 1 interception on defense. Great job, Brandon.
Edgerton Stats
Tinora Stats
Passing: Graziani: 4-6-90 yards 1 TD, 0 INT
Rushing: Edwards 19 carries for 143 yards and 2 TD; Gustwiller 8 carried for 17 yards, 1 TD; Anders 2 carried for 23 yards; Graziani 6 for 11 yards; Sweinhagen 11 for 52 yards; team, 2 for -2 yards.
Receiving: Anders 1 for 53 yards, 1 TD; Radzik 2 for 14 yards; Gustwiller 1 for 22;
Jim, here and far right, hanging it up after 30 years
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