A three touchdown night by Sadik Spence rallied Tyner to a 39-21 win against visiting Chattanooga Central Thursday in a high school football game.

Tyner quarterback Willie Stewart teamed with Spence on scoring pass plays of 35, 25 and 31 yards.

The Rams (5-2, 3-1)  also had scores from Lamonte Solomon (27 yard interception return) and Courtney Heard (11 yard run).

Central (1-6, 0-4) opened the scoring with a 95 yard pitch and catch with quarterback Dominque Dawson and TaQuan Johnson at 5:43 of the first quarter and a 7-0 lead after Tareq Faleh's first of three extra points.

The Rams evened the score at 7-7 on Spence's first scoring reception with 32 seconds remaining in the opening quarter, only to have the Purple Pounders go up 21-7 with four minutes before halftime.

Dawson threw scoring passes to Traviunta Trammel (44) and Kevin McKenzie (23) for the 21-7 lead.

Tyner evened it before halftime on Spence's second touchdown and a 13 yard run to pay dirt by Kalan Hardley at 1:21

After a scorless third quarter, Tyner converted on a pair of Central turnovers.

After Courtney Heard blocked a Central punt in the fourth quarter, Stewart and Spence hooked up for the third time and a 27-21 Ram lead at 8:30. Stewart was 8 of 20 on the night passing for 176 yards, three scores and two interceptions.

A minute later, linebacker Lamonte Solomon returned an interception 27 yards to the end zone and a 33-21 lead.

Heard closed out the scoring on his 11-yard run with 2:40 remaining.

"This is the best we have played late in a game this season," said Tyner coach Wayne Turner.

"Sadik is a real playmaker and gave an all out performance tonight."

Spence, who also plays shortstop on the baseball team and point guard in basketball, had an interception in the end zone near the end of the first half to stop a Central drive.

Missed Opportunities: Both teams were inside the opponents 10 yard line in the first half, but failed to score.

Central stopped Tyner on downs at the six yard line on the Rams first possession of the game and Spence's interception in the end zone stopped Central late in the half.

Central had the ball twice on the Tyner side of the field in the second half on turnovers but could not convert. The Pounders had the ball on the Tyner 32 in the third quarter after a fumbled snap on fourth down and had a fumble recovery by Demonte Bibbs at the Tyner 41 yard line in the fourth quarter.

Central's Kevin McKenzie also returned a third quarter interception to the Tyner 34, but was stripped of the ball by Tyner's Joseph Sturkey.

"That's the best our defense had played in two years and our offense was excellent for the first two quarters," said Central coach John Allen.

"We are getting better, but we need to put four quarters together on offense."

Defensive Standouts: Central -  (Kevin McKenzie, 2 interceptions),  Robert Dix (3 quarterback sacks), Demonte Bibbs (fumble recovery)

Tyner: Sadik Spence (interception), Lamonte Johnson (interception for touchdown), Joseph Sturkey (fumble recovery), Courtney Heard (blocked punt), Kalan Hardley (interception)

Tyner 39, Central 21

Central  7 14 0 0 -- 21

Tyner  7 14 0 18 -- 39

C -TaQuan Trammell 44 pass from Dominique Dawson (Tareq Kaleh kick), 7-0 ... 1st Q

T - Sadik Spence 35 pass from Willie Stewart (Kevin Cortes kick), 7-7 ... 1st Q

C - Traviunta Trammel 44 pass from Dawson (Kaleh kick), 14-7 ... 2nd Q

C - Kevin McKenzie 23 pass from Dawson (Kaleh kick), 21-7 ... 2nd Q  

T - Spence 25 pass from Stewart (Cortes kick), 21-14 ... 2nd Q

T - Kalen Hardley 13 run (Cortes kick), 21-21 ... 2nd Q

T - Spence 31 pass from Stewart (kick failed), 27-21 ... 4th Q

T - Lamonte Solomon 27 interception return (kick failed), 33-21 ... 4th Q

T - Courtney Heard 11 run (kick failed), 39-21 ... 4th Q

Records: Tyner (5-2, 3-1), Central (1-6, 0-4)

Game Stats:

First Downs: Tyner, 19-9

Rushing: Tyner, 169-91

Passing: Tyner, 176-134

Total Yards: Tyner, 345-225

Comp.Att-Ints: Tyner (8-20-2), Central (7-21-3)

Fumbles-Lost : Tyner (2-2)  Central (4-2)

Penalties: Tyner, 7-60, Central, 5-40

 Rushing: C-  Kevin McKenzie (6-33), T - Joseph Sturkey (5-45)

Passing: C -Dominique Dawson (7-21,  3 TDs, T INTS) ... T - Willie Stewart (8-20, 3 TDs, 2 INTs) 

 

contact B.B. Branton at william.branton@comcast.net