SHERWOOD – After a sluggish 1-2 start to the 2023 season, the Tinora Rams hit the road and traveled to Sherwood to take on their long time rival, the Apaches of Fairview.
Although entering the game winless, the 0-3 young Apaches appear to be on the right track under the tutelage of Doug Rakes.
The Rams and Apaches squared off on a near perfect Friday evening at The Reservation at Fairview High School.
Tinora wasted little time getting the running game back on track as Grady Gustwiller hit pay dirt with a 7 yard TD run with 4:15 remaining in the initial quarter. Jacob Bishop’s XP gave the Rams a 7-0 lead.
The Apaches responded as sophomore QB William Zeedyke, who entered as the areas third leading passer, drove Fairview down the field and hit Gavin Garza for a 7 yard TD. This cut the Tinora lead to 7-6 to start the second quarter at the 11.54 mark. Fairview tried for and converted the two point conversion as Zeedyke ran it in as Fairview grabbed an 8-7 lead over the Rams.
The next six minutes on the clock was the Gustwiller show for the Rams.
Gustwiller would again find the end zone, this time from a yard out with 7:15 on the second quarter clock, after the Bishop XP, Tinora would grab a 14-8 advantage and never look back.
Less than a minute later, at the 6:11 mark of the second stanza, Gustwiller would step in front of a Zeekyke pass, returning it 30 yards for a Tinora TD, Bishop’s XP gave the Rams of Tinora a 21-8 lead.
Gustwiller was not done. He put on his Superman cape on the next Rams possession. This time shaking would be Fairview tacklers, Gustwiller would stumble to the Fairview five-yard line and somehow keep his balance, launching himself into the end zone for a 35 yard TD for the Rams, Bishop’s XP was good and Tinora led 28-8.
The Rams defense took the task of stopping the high-flying Apache offense to heart. After seeing Fairview average nearly 30m points a game this season, the Tinora defense applied pressure to Zeedyke throughout the initial half, taking a commanding 28-8 lead to the locker room.
Tinora out gained Fairview in the first half, 209-150, led by Dominic Graziani and his 68 yards rushing. Tinora held Fairview to just 4 yards rushing in the half.
Dominic Graziani put the Rams on the board midway through the third quarter with a 23 yard scamper at the 5:36 mark, putting the Rams ahead 35-8 after Bishop’s XP.
Joey Guisinger, playing his first game since week 1, darted into the end zone for the first time this season, the Rams would lead 42-8 after the XP by Jacob Bishop with .09 seconds in the third quarter.
Fairview’s offense never seemed to get in a grove against the Rams defense, the Apaches would drive deep into Tinora territory at the end of the third quarter, but be stopped on a long fourth down conversion.
The Apache defense added a 96 yard fumble return by Gain Garza as he scooped up an Owen Ferrell fumble and returned it for a score at the 5:15 mark of the fourth quarter. The XP by Williams was not good, the Rams led 42-14.
In their best performance of the season, the Rams accumulated 416 total yards of offense, 366 on the ground.
The Rams defense limited the Apache attack to just 197 yards, after Zeedyke gained over 500 yards last week, vs Bryan.
Tinora and Fairview would exchange possessions before time would run out on the Apaches.
TINORA 7-21-14-0=42
FAIRVIEW 0-8-0-7=14
TINORA FAIRVIEW
First Downs 21 11
Rushes/yards 55/366 7/7
Passing/yards 9/11/0/1 20/40/190/0/1
Total offense 65/416 47/197
Penalty 4/32 4/17
Tinora passing: Graziani 8-10-50/0/1; Ferrell 0-1
Fairview passing: Zeekyke 20-40-190-0-1
Tinora Rushing: Gustwiller 15-95 yards; Graziani 14-146; Guisinger 11-65; Radzik 2-7; Luellen – Jimenez
Fairview Rushing: Zeedyke 7-7
Tinora receiving: Gustwiller 4-21; Radzik 2-19; Ackerman 1-7.
Fairview receiving: Olinger 6-32; Williams 5-23; Meade 3-93
Tinora improves to 2-2 and will travel to Antwerp and take on the undefeated Archers next Friday night.
The Apaches drop to 0-4, Fairview will travel to take on the improved Panthers next Friday
The Higbea Embroidery Player of the Game went to Rams Senior, Grady Gustwiller. Congratulations, Grady!
Watch the game from earlier, tape delay tonight.
