TINORA – On Senior Night 2021, the Tinora Rams football team sent the fans home happy with a 48-0 shutout win over GMC foe, the Aces of Hicksville.
As families, friends and fans gathered at Tinora’s Justin F Coressel stadium on a dark, dreary, and very damp Friday night, all on hand were honoring the 2021 Seniors. From football seniors, to cheerleaders, to band members, to cross country, all were honored in a pregame ceremony prior to kickoff in the Rams home regular season finale.
The Rams were bringing a seven game winning streak, a 7-1 overall record, as well as an 5-0 undefeated Green Meadows Conference record against the Hicksville Aces. Lucas Smith and the Aces brought a 1-7 overall record and a 1-4 conference record to Tinora vs the Rams. The Aces had won 4 of the past 6 contests, the Rams won both meetings last season.
The Tinora offense, which has been rolling the past month, was a bit more methodical tonight in the first half, chewing up chunks of yardage while managing to take time off the clock.
The first score of the contest came with 5:26 remaining in the first quarter courtesy of a Rams TD pass from senior signal caller Nolan Schafer to Grady Gustwiller from 18 yards out, the XP by senior Dylan Camp was good, Tinora led 7-0.
The next Rams strike would be in the second quarter at the 11:53 mark. Brandon Edwards took it in from 32 yards out, skating across the left sideline, Tinora led 13-0 as the XP was no good.
With the Rams D dominating for the fifth straight week, holding the Aces to just four first half yards, minus 11 yards on the ground, the Tinora offense was set to score again. With 3:48 remaining before the half, last week’s hero KP Delarker took it in from 14 yards out. The XP again was no good on this wet, dreary night, Tinora led 19-0 as teams headed to the locker rooms.
Tinora had 138 yards rushing, 200 total first half yards.
As in previous weeks, the Tinora Rams wasted no time getting on the scoreboard to start the second half. This time, at the 9:21 mark, Rams RB Christian Commisso took it in from 18 yards out, making defenders miss along the way, giving the Rams a 25-0 lead on Senior Night.
That man KP Delarber again put it in the end zone at the 3:17 in the third, this time a 26 yard scamper, XP was good giving Tinora with a 33-0 lead in the third. This was the Rams fifth straight game with a running clock in the second half.
The Tinora reserves took the field late third quarter. The next Tinora score came midway through the fourth quarter as Ram freshman QB Dominic Graziani took a QB sweep in from 11 yards out with 5:30 remaining in the fourth quarter, the Jacob Bishop XP gave Tinora a 39-0 lead
The Rams attack wasn’t finished as Cole Sweinhagen jetted in from 19 yards with 1:47 remaining in the game, Bishop’s XP gave the Rams a 46-0 lead.
A Hicksville miss fire on a snap in the end zone with 19 seconds left gave Tinora two more points, increasing the Rams lead to 48-0. The finals tics ran off, giving Tinora the shutout and victory nine on Senior Night.
The Higbea Embroidery Player of the Game went to Rams RB Brandon Edwards. Edwards was skating on ice tonight on the muddy, slippery field, making it look effortless. Congratulations Brandon.
Tinora finished with 418 total yards of offense, 334 yards rushing.
The Aces were limited to just 49 total yards, another great performance by the Tinora defense.
With the win, Tinora moves to 8-1, 6-0 in the GMC. The Rams will travel to Fairview next Friday night in an attempt to capture the outright GMC title.
Hicksville falls to 1-8, 1-5 in the Green Meadows Conference. Hicksville will host Antwerp in the regular season finale next Friday.
Seniors honored prior to the game: Thank each one of you!
Senior Cheerleaders: Emily Meyer, Lily Burkholder, Regan Ankeny, Megan Hancock, Gaby Westhoven, & Ariana Hinojosa
Senior football players: Hyler Hespe, Dylan Camp, Jashua Bland, Casen Wolfrum, Eric Bohn, Baeden Hancock, Bryce Bailey, Hayden Becker, Nolan Schafer, KP Delarber, & Cole Commisso.
Trainer: Ellie Weimken
Senior Cross Country runners: Brysen Bigley, Lydia Evinger, & Heidy Monnin.
Senior Golf: Sammy Sin
Senior Band Members: Gavin Askins, Brysen Bigley, & Devin Singer
Hicksville 0 0 0 0 — 0
Tinora 7 12 13 16 — 48
T — Gustwiller 18-pass from Schafer (Camp kick).
T — Edwards 32-run (pass failed).
T — Delarber 14-run (kick failed).
T — Ch. Commisso 18-run (kick failed).
T — Delarber 26-run (Camp kick).
T — Graziani 11-run (Camp kick).
T — Sweinhagen 19-run (kick good).
T — Safety.
Passing:
Tinora – Schafer 8-11 84 1 TD 1 INT
Hicksville – Klima 12-29 60
Rushing;
Tinora Delarber 9-62 yards – 2 TD; Edwards 7 for 100 1 TD; Commisso 8 for 63 1 TD; Anders 3 for 23; Sweinhagen 6 for 43 1 TD; Graziani 1 for 17 1 TD; Schafre 1 for -1; Radzik 1-8
Hicksville: Baird 2 for -4; Klima 4 for 0 yards
Receiving:
Tinora: Gustwiller 1 for 18 yards 1 TD; Cole Commisso 5-44
Hicksville: Bergman 7 for 34 yards; Baird 6 for 43 yards; Langham 1 for 6 yards; Balser 4 for 4 yards
Photo courtesy – Emily Brown
