What's the best way to celebrate an 18th birthday? If you're Beaverton (Ore.) Aloha High senior running back Thomas Tyner, you run for a state single-game record 643 yards and an absolutely astounding 10 touchdowns in a single game … then watch as your team's defense scrambles to hold on to an early season win.
As reported by the Oregonian, Tyner's stats remain unofficial, but so far his night looks like one of the best ever produced by a running back anywhere. Considering the fact that many running backs would be happy to amass 600 yards in a season, getting them all in one night is something else. Tyner's record night surpassed the previous state mark of 508 yards -- set in 2011 by West Albany (Ore.) High back Jake LaCoste -- by more than 100 yards.
You can see the full highlights from Tyner's historic night above.
Incredibly, Aloha needed almost every single one of Tyner's big runs. The Warriors improved to 3-0 with an 84-63 victory, but the win wasn't secure until Aloha pulled in two fourth quarter interceptions as opposing Lakeridge (Ore.) High continued to fight back behind a strong performance from young quarterback Eric Dungey.
As good as Dungey may have been, Tyner was that much better. He nearly matched Lakeridge's point total himself. The Oregonian's Mike Richman was covering the game and providing tweet-by-tweet updates, leading to the following surreal dispatch at one point in the second quarter:
Aloha. Déjà Vu. Tyner scores again on one play. 65yd TD. Last 3plays for Aloha have been 3 60+ yard Tyner TDs. Lkrdge41-35 1:49, 2Q #opreps
Aloha record-setting running back Thomas Tyner — Rivals.com
By halftime, Tyner already had 362 yards and 5 touchdowns … on just 19 carries. As it turns out, those halftime numbers only served notice that Tyner was in the midst of a special night, particularly as Lakeridge kept scoring, pushing Aloha to respond.
The full statistical breakdown from the Oregon commit's performance is even more staggering. By game's end he amassed his 643 yards on 38 carries, finishing with an average of 16.9 yards-per-carry. Even more incredibly, 26.3 percent of his runs ended in the end zone. That's more than one out of every four times he was handed the ball. Only one of his touchdowns came from 10-yards or fewer, with seven coming from 40 or more yards.
Tyner also now sits third all-time in single game rushing, behind Netcong (N.J.) High legend John Giannantonio's 754 yards in 1950 and a 661-yard performance by Matewan (W.V.) High back Paul McCoy's 661-yard game in 2006.
The senior star's 10 touchdowns didn't set a single-game record in Oregon, but it certainly set a new state mark for rushing touchdowns in regulation football; at the same time on Friday, Perrydale (Ore.) High running back Josh Hiebenthal also scored 10 times in an eight-man game.
The 10 scores also gave more push to the claim recently made by some -- including OregonPreps.com's Dirk Knudsen -- that Tyner might be the best running back in state history.
Given that Tyner's best ever game came on his birthday provided even more material for the memory bank, all while providing a nice little present for Oregon fans, who can salivate for just less than a year before presumably getting the record-setter on the field in a Ducks uniform.
I'm thinking none of my buddy's single-game state records are still records as of this morning.
They were in position to be our archrivals way back when (we were theirs), but they were never really good enough. They've always pretty much sucked... until Tyner showed up and led them to the championship as a soph (got hurt and only played 5 or six games last year... and still had well over a thousand, and a million tuddies.
Freaking machine. Let's see how Rivals et al feel about him this week (already a 5 star as a junior, not losing any stock this season).
643 yards and 10 tuddies isn't a bad season.
We're aving a cool high school season so far, 3 weeks in. Went to my first high school game in many a year last friday, in Southern Oregon... maybe I'll tell the cool story if I get bored enough. It was seen from the Luxury Box in someone's yard at the end of the stadium... no rules against booze in dude's backyard... and we fully exploited that lack of rule.
"Tyler Ebell is one of three redshirt freshman tailbacks who should contribute in a number of ways this season, including tailback and punt returner. Came to UCLA after setting the national high school records for yards gained in a season (4,495) and touchdowns in a season (64)."
Before you award him the Heisman, there have been "prolific" runners move up that were less than less.
I could've watched that clip and not known who that was and where that kid played...that just looks like an Oregon prospect. Didn't see a lot of his moves in that clip but pretty much hit the hole and it was off the races. Looks like a strong upright runner...another scary guy to contend with in the black, silver, neon yellow and green.
Left Seater wrote:Can't blame Oregon HS coaches for emulating the Ducks, but damn mix in some defense.
Well, in defense of the defensive struggle -- those teams are known as offensive juggernauts. Typical West Coasters -- put all the best athletes on offense. Not to be confused with South Medford (same division, 6A, top division here), who is making good offenses look feeble so far -- I think they're still allowing negative rushing yards on the season. An Aloha/South Medford championship game might happen.
Speaking of putting all the athletes on O... sup, Tennessee Tech? They're moving the ball a bit, and Oregon's lackluster D is doing little besides making 3rd down stops.
On offense, Oregon is bored and playing all freshmen, like the last 2 weeks. Cancellations (sup KSU) led to one pathetic OOC slate.
BTW -- incase anyone missed it, ESPN put Tyner as the #2 "Top 10 Plays."
Got me to thinking... dude became a national name overnight, and was a firm Oregon commit as a junior...
so much for getting more than one premier RB in next years class. Why would anyone want to come in at the same time as Tyner (even though Oregon consistantly plays 3 RBs)?
Update -- last night, Tyner was limited to 311 yards and 5 tuddies... by his coach, who sat him in the second half (it was like 42-0 or something, against a perennial powerhouse team).
