River Ridge moved closer to that goal with a 35-14 win over Cass.
The Knights started with the ball in their own territory. Before the first play was under way, the Colonels were flagged for offsides, a trend both teams would have to fight all game long.
After a few running plays, the Cass defense stiffened and forced a punt. As the Knight’s punter went to send the ball down field, Micah Barron broke through the line and got a hand on the ball, blocking the punt. Justin Reed recovered the block at the Knights’ 40-yard line, giving the Colonels great starting field position. Though the Colonels went three-and-out, they pinned the Knights deep in their own territory. River Ridge tried pulling out a little razzle-dazzle, running a reverse, but it back fired. With a fumble on the play, Cass recovered deep in Knight territory.
After a false start penalty, quarterback Brandon Etheridge scored the first touchdown of the game. Cass led 7-0 in the first quarter. After a stalled drive by the Knights, with E.J. Ellis carrying the load, the Knights punted. Cass gave the ball back with a three-and-out and, with a few seconds left in the first quarter in Cass’s territory, Cass was called for a dead ball foul as time ran out on the clock. One second was put back on the clock and River Ridge QB Steven Spears threw a 30-yard touchdown to tie it up at 7 at the end of the first.
Cass received the kickoff to start the second quarter after a bit of a confusing end to the first quarter. Both defenses stood strong, keeping either offense at bay until River Ridge was faced with a fourth-and-1 at midfield. Spears tossed it to Ellis who picked up the first down, giving the Knights a little spark on offense. Though they eventually had to punt it away, the Knight offense started playing with a little swagger. During what looked to be a promising drive by the Colonels, a shotgun snap went sailing over Etheridge’s back to the 2-yard line.
After a Cass punt, Tremain Carr scored on a 14 yard run to put River Ridge up 13-7 with 3:35 left in the half.
The Colonels then ran the two-minute offense to perfection after starting at their own 10. With some big penalties sending them backward, Etheridge takes off on a 50-yard run and then hit Kelin Wells on a pass down to the 2-yard line. While it was looking like Cass would score and take the lead just before the half, the Colonels fumbled and went into halftime down 13-7.
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