STILL FAR APART
TYNER DOMINATES IN WIN AT BRAINERD
Tyner and Brainerd continued their football seasons’ divergent trajectories Friday as the Rams spoiled Brainerd’s senior night with a 32-8 victory, their seventh of a season that already includes the Region 3-2A title.
“We played extremely well on defense and executed pretty well on offense,” Rams coach Wayne Turner said. “There were a couple of tough calls that went against us, but I think we played pretty well offensively.”
Tyner (7-2) was assertive early, grabbing a 7-0 first quarter lead with the help of a 40-yard strike from Jaylen Bowens to Ke’un Webb.
The Rams then showed their balance in the second quarter, suffocating the Panthers (1-8) on defense and scoring on the ground and on special teams. Tyon Young ran it in from 8 yards out, and Jeremy Elston added an 87-yard punt return to make it 20-0 after the extra point.
“We have to learn how to fight a lot harder,” first-year Brainerd coach Tyrus Ward said. “We have to learn how to win football games at Brainerd. That culture hasn’t been created here. We know Tyner is going to be on the schedule again next year, and we’ll have a better showing.”
Tyner continued its torrid
pace with a strong start to the third quarter. Webb scampered in from the 3-yard line after the
Rams chewed up nearly five minutes on the half’s opening drive.
Martavius Ryals then connected with Elston for a 45-yard score to make it 32-0 with 3:27 to play in the third quarter.
From there, Tyner’s offense seemed to hit a wall as penalties and two fumbles deep in Brainerd territory kept the visitors out of the end zone the rest of the night.
“Our goal is to get better every week and eliminate mistakes,” said Turner, whose team clinched the Region 3-2A title earlier this fall and will close the regular season next week against Central. “We had been doing a good job of eliminating mistakes, but this week we took a couple of steps back. We have to get back on the right track next week.”
Brainerd was able to take advantage and showed life in the late stages of the third quarter and throughout the final period. The Panthers got on the board with 47 ticks left in the third as Xiyeer Lattimore found Joseph Norwood for a 39-yard score. Norwood added a pass to Jesse Walker for the 2-point conversion.
“We started protecting better in the second half,” Ward said. “Our O-line manned up a little bit, and we had better pass protection.”
Tyner’s Elston finished with 117 yards on 16 carries. Young added 63 on 15, and Bowens threw for 141 yards.