Tinora 34 Edgerton 30

EDGERTON: Tinora’s Owen Ferrell hit Dylan Schaufele with a 15-yard touchdown pass with 2:40 remaining as the Tinora Rams scored 28 unanswered points. The Rams rallied from a 30-6 deficit for a thrilling 34-30 comeback win, capped by a Parker Hancock interception with 40 seconds remaining in the contest.

Tinora’s third-year coach, Eric Becker, has always preached, Play every second like it is your last play. Play the full 48 minutes; you never know what will happen if you give 100%.

The Tinora Rams found out what happens when you never give up: play the full four quarters, all 48 minutes, for a total of 2,880 seconds.

As the teams headed to the half, the Bulldogs of Edgerton dominated the first half, led by Maddox Baker. Tinora players, coaches, and fans were wondering what could have been. A night the Rams needed a win to keep their playoff hopes alive, all looked to be lost as Tinora trailed the Edgerton Bulldogs, 30-6, after the initial 24 minutes.

But that’s why you play all four quarters. Tinora and Edgerton both played identically over the final 24 minutes, identically opposite. The Tinora offense could not be stopped behind the right arm of Owen Ferrell, while the Rams defense looked like the 1985 Chicago Bears.

Meanwhile, the Edgerton offense, which gained 372 first-half yards, was limited to just 31 yards over the final 24 minutes. Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, they lost starting QB Maddox Baker early in the fourth quarter due to an injury on defense.

Edgerton wasted no time getting rolling on Senior Night, as they drove down the field on their opening possession, capped by a Baker-to-Mason Elden touchdown pass. The XP by Parker Eldon was good, and the Bulldogs led 7-0 with 8:43 in the first quarter.

The Bulldogs’ second possession resulted in another Baker strike, this one to Kellen Sanchez for a 5-yard score; the XP by Elden gave Edgerton a 14-0 lead with 3:34 in the opening quarter.

With the Rams offense struggling, Edgerton grabbed a 21-0 lead at the end of the first quarter with a Maddox Baker 6-yard run, Eldon’s XP increased the Edgerton lead to 21-0 with 34 seconds remaining in the first stanza.

The Tinora offense finally got on the board to start the second quarter as Owen Ferrell hit Owen Reynolds with an 18-yard score. Edgerton blocked the XP, and the Bulldogs led 21-6 with 11:52 in the half.

Backed up to their own 1-foot line, Tinora was flagged for holding in the endzone, resulting in a Bulldogs safety, and a 23-6 lead with 4:02 remaining in the half.

Edgerton would receive the ball after the safety, capped by another Maddox Baker score, this one from 1 yard out, his second TD run of the half. The Bulldogs took a 30-6 lead at halftime.

Tinora’s Owen Reynolds hauled in a 49-yard score from Ferrell, and Tinora converted the 2-point conversion on a Ferrell to Schaufele pass. The Rams were back in the game, but trailing 30-14 with 10:01 remaining in the third stanza.

The Ferrell-to-Owens lightning bolt hit again on the final play of the third quarter, this time for a 27-yard scoring pass. Again, the Rams went for the two-point conversion, and the same connection, Ferrell to Schaufele, cut the Edgerton lead to 30-22 at the end of the third.

With the Edgerton starting Maddox Baker sidelined at the start of the final quarter, the Tinora defense needed a stop, and they would get it. After a punt, the Tinora offense took over at the Edgerton 45-yard line. Ferrell would drive the Rams offense for another score as he would hit Schaufele for a 4-yard score with 8:26 in the final quarter. The two-point attempt failed for the Rams via pass.

The Tinora defense again came up clutch, forcing an Edgerton punt with 7:45 in the fourth. Needing a score to cap the comeback, Owen Ferrell drove for 5 minutes, hitting multiple receivers, capped by another Schaufele score with 2:30 remaining. The two-point conversion failed on a run by Ferrell.

Edgerton, using backup quarterback Mason Elden, faced with heavy pressure by the Tinora defensive line, forced an interception at the Edgerton 45-yard line with just over two minutes remaining.

With just one timeout remaining, things looked bleak for Edgerton. As the Rams were attempting to seal the game, the Bulldogs forced a Tinora fumble with 1:40 left, recovering it at their own 35-yard line.

Again facing pressure and with no timeouts remaining, the Bulldogs faced a third-and-short with just over a minute left in the contest. Abram Jimenez came through with a huge defensive sack, resulting in a 10-yard loss. Now facing a fourth and 14 from their own 32, Parker Hancock came up with the game-sealing interception with just seconds remaining.

The Rams capped one of the biggest comebacks in their history with a 34-30 win.

TINORA 0-6-14-14=34
EDGERTON 21-9-0-0=30

Tinora passing: Ferrell 27-44-305-5 TD 1 INT
Tinora rushing: Replogle 12-27, Hattemer 3-18, Jimenez 1-2, Ferrell 7 (-19)
Tinora receiving: Reynolds 10-148-3 TD, Schaufele 9-33-2 TD, Shinninger 4-25, Nicely 2-23, Stark 2-16

Edgerton passing: Baker 18-29-178-2 TD, Elden 2-6-16-2 INT
Edgerton rushing: Baker Baker 17-128 2 TD, Sanchez 6-68, Puente 6-23, Flower 1-1, Elden 1 (-11)
Edgerton receiving: Sanchez 11-126-1 TD, Elden 1-22-1 TD, Gibson 4-17, Elden 2-13, Puente 1-16, Curl 1-0

Tinora improves to 5-5, 5-2 in the GMC. The Rams will wait for their fate in the OHSAA Playoffs. The Rams have a chance to get the #12 seed, likely at Fairview next Friday. (unofficial)

Edgerton falls to 6-4, 3-4 in conference play. Edgerton has clinched a playoff spot but will likely be on the road after the loss. Likely at Edon Friday (unofficial)

The Higbea Embroidery Player of the Game went to Owen Ferrell. Great job, Owen.

The Patriot Outdoor Hunting Play of the Game went to Dylan Schaufele. Congratulations, Dylan.