All was well in Tyler County on Friday night as the Tyler Consolidated Silver Knights captured the first win of the 2010 high school football season, 35-12. The team played host to the Ritchie County Rebels on Homecoming night and performed before a large hometown crowd.

“It was good to win,” said head coach of the Silver Knights, Rob Caldwell. “We played consistently and didn’t do many things to hurt ourselves. It really made a difference in the overall picture. I was glad the kids were able to win their homecoming game, and we really appreciated the fan support from the bleachers.”

The Knights broke open their scoring with 4:04 left to play in the first period with a 35 yard pass from Jordan Smith to Corey Lowe. Blaise Rice made good on the extra point kick, putting the home team in the lead, 7-0. In the opening seconds of the second quarter, senior Isaac Graham quick ran three yards in for the TD followed by another Rice extra point kick.

A timely interception by senior Zack Knowlton in the first half had the Knight fans on their feet and put the Silver on offense, with another chance to add to the scoreboard.

With 1:55 to go in the second, the Knights struck pay dirt again on a Smith to Evan Cline 28 yard pass for six points, again followed by a Rice kick, putting the Knights in the lead, 21-0 at the half.

In the third quarter, Smith found Corey Lowe on a 15 yard pass into the end zone. Rice centered the uprights for the extra point to put the score at 28-0.

Ritchie County intercepted a Consolidated pass with 4:02 in the third to score six.

Five seconds into the fourth quarter, Graham ran 10 yards in for a Knight touchdown, followed again by a good Rice extra point kick. The Rebels scored again with 1:48 to go, putting the final score of the game, 35-12, in the Knights favor.

“Our defense bent, but didn’t break,” Caldwell said. “We had a good effort from every kid on the field, and that’s what it takes.”

The Knights gained 182 rushing yards on 47 carries, and 202 passing yards for 404 total yards in the game, while the Rebels had 156 rushing yards on 26 carries, and 182 passing yards for a total of 338 yards. The Knights acquired 17 first downs to the Rebels 10. Tyler Consolidated was penalized twice for 10 yards and fumbled twice. Ritchie County was penalized seven times for 43 yards and lost one of one fumble.

Senior quarterback for the Knights, Jordan Smith, completed 11 of 18 passes for 194 yards and three touchdowns, and was intercepted once. Sophomore quarterback Hunter LeMasters completed 1-1 for 28 yards.

Corey Lowe was the leading receiver for the home team with four catches for 62 yards. Zack Knowlton caught three passes for 57 yards; Boone Kehrer had two catches for 41 yards; Alex Doak had two catches for 34 yards and Evan Cline caught a pass for 28 yards.

Senior Issac Graham led all rushers in the game with 156 ground yards on 36 carries. Cline rushed four times for 21 yards; Jordan Smith carried the ball three times for five yards; Skylar Leasure and LeMasters each rushed once for three yards apiece.

Defensively, Kehrer had eight tackles, and one assist; Lowe was credited with six tackles, one assist; caused a fumble and covered a fumble; Graham had five tackles, three assists and covered a fumble; John Kocher had five tackles and one assist; LeMasters, four tackles, two assists; Alex Doak, three tackles and one assist; Evan Cline, three tackles, three assists; Koty Martin, two tackles and one assist; Slade Dillon, two tackles; Drew Casey, two tackles; Swen Scheidemantel, two tackles; and Isaiah Cassenelli, had an interception.

The Silver Knights will host the Clay County Panthers on Friday night at 7:30 p.m. Senior night ceremonies will take place immediately before the game.