By Gaylen Duskey
realfang@citlink.net
Tyler Consolidated scored 21 unanswered points in the second quarter Friday night to power it to a 34-23 victory over homestanding Calhoun County.
The Silver Knights took advantage of the hot hand of quarterback Jordan Baker as he threw for one touchdown and ran for another to break a 7-7 tie and give Tyler a lead it would never relinquish.
The Knights, 3-2, got its first touchdown from Tyler Anderson on an 18 yard run making it 14-7 following a kick by Federico Perez.
The Knights' defense then forced a turnover and scored moments later on an 18-yard run by Baker. Baker finished off his outstanding quarter not long after that when he connected with Jayce Reed from 26 yards out.
Despite the heroics in the second quarter it took a long march, mostly behind the running of Anderson, in the fourth quarter to finally subdue the Red Devils. The long march not only allowed the Knights to roll up their 34th point but it also ate valuable time off the clock after the Red Devils had cut the lead in half.
Tyler scored first on a 27-yard connection from Baker to Colby Lash with 5:22 remaining in the opening period.
By Calhoun responded with a touchdown of its own as Seth Moore bulled his way in from the four. Dustin Holcomb added the extra point to tie the game.
The Tyler went on its second quarter rampage threatening to make a runaway of the game, especially since it had a 28-7 lead and was to get the second half kickoff.
But Calhoun responded defensively and held the Knights setting off a string of failed drives by both teams.
But Calhoun got untracked in the final period and slugged its way down the field to score on Moore's one-yard run. The two point conversion (a run by Moore) made it 28-15.
Following that Tyler unleashed a long drive of its own that ate more than four minutes off the clock before Baker scored on a one yard run to make it 34-14 with only 4:31 remaining.
Calhoun, 2-3, was not dead however and responded with one of its longest players of the year when Casey Ritchie hooked up with Dakota Jarvis for a 70-yard touchdown with 1:04 remaining. Casey Ritchie then connected with Ethyn Miller for the extra points setting the final score at 34-23.
Cole Ritchie led the Calhoun offense with 156 yards rushing on 30 carries while Moore added 86 yards and two touchdowns on 20 attempts. Casey Ritchie had 20 yards rushing and passed for 81 more on two of six passing, with Jarvis accounting for 70 yards and Miller 11.
The Red Devils actually had more total offense, 323-317, and first downs, 20-19, but was unable to find an answer in the second quarter as the Knights had 10 first downs and 137 yards total offense. Baker accounted for 50 rushing and 45 passing as his play proved to be the difference.
Calhoun will try to get back to .500 this coming Friday night when it plays host to South Harrison, 3-2, in the next-to-last home game of the season. Tyler Consolidated will try to keep its playoff hopes alive when it travels to No. 7 Buffalo, a 69-52 victor over Gilmer County.
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