Tyner Academy Rams head coach Wayne Turner directs Jaylen Grimes (22) at Anthony S. Martino Field.A streak that was two decades in the making will come to an end this year.
Since 1994, Tyner has been in the football playoffs, some years playing just one game but in others -- such as 1996 and 1997 -- making runs to the state championship game. The Rams also have had 13 seasons with at least seven wins and nine with at least 10 wins.
Headed into tonight's game at Red Bank, Tyner has a 2-7 record. It is the fewest wins since the 1974 team went 1-9.
"It was a good run," said Wayne Turner, the Rams' head coach since 1991. "Obviously things didn't work out the way they were planned. We lost some key people at the beginning of the year that were out when we started playing district games."
Both of the Rams' wins this year have come against District 6-AA competition. If there was solace to be found it would be that 90 percent of this year's team will be back next season.
"Sometimes you have to go through the rough times to appreciate the smooth times, and sometimes that makes you realize that it takes hard work to get back to the smooth side of the road," Turner said. "I hope the guys learn from the rough times. I think the majority of them will."
Local coaches picked
East Ridge coaches Tracy Malone and Boyd-Buchanan's Grant Reynolds will serve as assistants to head coach Greg Wyant of Siegel for the East squad at the 2014 Toyota East-West All-star game on on Friday, Dec. 12, at Tennessee Tech.
Among other East team assistants are former Tennessee Volunteerss standout Sean Witten, who now coaches at Elizabethton.
Mainord sets marks
Grundy County junior Houston Mainord is coming off a 317-yard passing performance, giving him more than 1,800 yards for the season.
"It's a school season record, with a game to go," Yellow Jackets coach Nick Bryant said. "The only passing record he doesn't have is the single-game record, something like 370 yards set by Nick Meeks back in the (19)90s."
Two years ago, Mainord became the first to throw for 1,000 yards in Grundy County history.
"He had 900 as a freshman and 1,800 this year so far," Bryant said. "He's way above anybody else here, and the good thing is he'll be back next year."
Tigers' Ricker returns
Versatile Dakota Ricker, a receiver, running back, linebacker and safety for Meigs County, is back on the football field and will be available if the Tigers get into the postseason.
"We played him a couple of plays last week -- threw him two passes -- but we don't know whether or not we'll play him on both sides of the ball," Meigs coach Jason Fitzgerald said.
Ricker, who was sidelined with shoulder problems, was the Times Free Press player of the week earlier this year when he ran for one TD, caught a Clint Baker pass for another and returned two interceptions for scores in a win over Rockwood.
Contact Ward Gossett at wgossett@timesfreepress.com or 423-886-4765. Follow him at Twitter.com/wardgossett.