Tyner Shocks Notre Dame In Overtime Thriller

Halfacre Scores Game-Winning TD As Rams Prevail, 27-21

  • Friday, August 28, 2015
  • John Hunt
Tyner's Keiontae Halfacre (10) barrels into the end zone in overtime with what would prove to be the game winning touchdown as the Rams pulled the upset win over Notre Dame Friday night, 27-21, at home on Wayne Turner Field. The Irish's Allan Dunleavy (18) and Alex Spraker (13) move in too late for the attempted stop.
Tyner's Keiontae Halfacre (10) barrels into the end zone in overtime with what would prove to be the game winning touchdown as the Rams pulled the upset win over Notre Dame Friday night, 27-21, at home on Wayne Turner Field. The Irish's Allan Dunleavy (18) and Alex Spraker (13) move in too late for the attempted stop.
photo by Dennis Norwood

Oh, what a difference a year makes.

The Tyner Rams only won two football games a year ago and didn't make the playoffs for the first time in coach Wayne Turner's 24 years as their head coach.

Now a season later, the Rams have equaled last year's win total, the latest being a 27-21 overtime victory over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in a game where there were more momentum swings than first downs.

The Rams have always enjoyed using a stable of running backs, most with positive results.  Such was the case on Friday as at least 10 players had at least one carry.

Sophomore Keiontae Halfacre only had one carry, but it was the biggest of the game as it resulted in a touchdown run from the 9 in overtime.  Kevin Cortes, who had booted three straight extra points up to that point, missed wide right, but the Rams had the upper hand again at 27-21.

Alex Darras completed a pass to Andrew Banks on first down that moved the ball down to the 4, but the game ended on three-straight incomplete passes, the last one bouncing off the fingertips of Tyler Enos on the final play.

"What a tremendous win for this team against one of the best teams in the state," said Tyner's Turner after it had ended.

"This is really sweet after what we went through last year, but these guys have been working really hard and they've come a long way since that time.  We knew this would be an important game as we wanted to have a strong showing.  We're hoping that a good game tonight might carry over to the rest of the season.

.And what about the decision to insert an unproven sophomore in the game at a most critical time.

"We've been working on that play for a couple of weeks and I knew he could make something good happen with the ball in his hands.  We knew that if we blocked, we could score.  But this game gives these kids a lot of confidence and momentum for the rest of the season," the veteran coach added.

 Notre Dame took the opening kickoff and marched 77 yards in 17 plays, taking more than eight minutes off the clock before Darras hooked up with Banks on a pass play covering 7 yards for the touchdown.  Darras booted the extra point and the lead was 7-0 with 3:57 left in the first quarter.

Tyner evened the score on Notre Dame's next possession as Jadarius Paris intercepted a Darras pass and returned it 27 yards for the TD.  Cortes evened the score with his kick with 11:50 left before intermission.

The Rams then scored the go-ahead touchdown with 31 seconds left in the half as Chaysen Patrick scooted four yards to give his team the lead.  Cortes made it 14-7 at the half with his second PAT.

Shannon Spralls helped the Rams extend the lead to 21-7 with a 14-yard run on a reverse with 2:50 left in the third stanza.

Nothing good was happening for Notre Dame at that point, but coach Charles Fant challenged them when the quarter ended and the Fighting Irish responded.

 Tyner won the statistical battle as the Rams finished with 339 total yards to just 218 for Notre Dame.

The Rams finished with 238 rushing yards and 101 through the air.

Patrick was the leading rusher with 69 yards on 13 carries while Spralls had 60 yards on eight trips.  Moss was next with 50 yards on five attempts.

Samuels was the receiving leader with 82 yards on two grabs, both in the second half.

Notre Dame finished with 167 yards through the air and just 51 on the ground.

Darras completed 13 of 24 passes with Banks being the leader with five catches for 90 yards.  Baker had four for 39 while Cameron Wynn had three for 23 yards.

Ricky Ballard picked up 60 rushing yards on 13 carries to lead the Irish ground game.

Tyner also won the first down battle by a 16-10 margin.

Notre Dame will be at home for the first time next Friday to host Chattanooga Christian while Tyner will be at home again to host Polk County.

NOTRE DAME  7  0  0  14  0  --  21

TYNER  0  14  7  0  6  --  27

ND -- Andrew Banks 7 pass from Alex Darras (Darras kick), 3:57 left in first;

TY -- Jadarius Paris 27 interception return (Kevin Cortes kick), 11:50 left in second;

TY -- Chaysen Patrick 4 run (Cortes kick), :31.7 left in second;

TY -- Shannon Spralls 14 run (Cortes kick), 2:50 left in third;

ND -- Calvin Sims 60 fumble return (Darras kick);

ND -- Banks 52 pass from Darras (Darras kick), 1:46 left in fourth;

TY -- Keiontae Halfacre 9 run (kick failed), clock not used in overtime.

(Email John Hunt at nomarathonmoose@gmail.com)

Notre Dame's Cameron Wynn pulls in a pass that would turn into a game-tying touchdown for the Irish. Wynn would slip past a defender before scampering into the end zone.
Notre Dame's Cameron Wynn pulls in a pass that would turn into a game-tying touchdown for the Irish. Wynn would slip past a defender before scampering into the end zone.
photo by Dennis Norwood
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