Jacob Ridener ties Oak Harbor sack record during playoff football victory over rival Genoa
Jacob Ridener had one sack in limited varsity snaps last season.
The Oak Harbor sophomore thought that meant 14 would be reasonable progress for an encore. He had at least one in every game except one and tied the single-season record by reaching his preseason goal with three sacks in a 47-36 victory Friday over rival Genoa in Division V's Region 18.
The six-seed Rockets (10-1) visit unbeaten three-seed Eastwood (11-0) in the second round.
"The best thing about [Ridener] is how hard he plays," Oak Harbor coach Mike May said. "He never takes a play off in the weight room or a game. Because he works so hard, opportunities come to get sacks and tackles for loss. He's a great effort guy."
Ridener had three sacks and at least 13 tackles in a 28-25 setback to Genoa in Week 2. The Comets won the last two games against Oak Harbor in the regular season.
Only Port Clinton shut Ridener out from getting to the quarterback, and he doesn't think of it that way.
"I was in pass coverage a lot that game as an outside linebacker," he said.
Zach Clune and Ridener arrived at about the same time to force third-and-18 from the 50. Garry Brooks made an open field tackle to force a Genoa punt.
"I was dropping back the first game, this time I was on the line so it was easier to get in there," Ridener said. "Give credit to the inside guys for pushing [the quarterback] outside. Feeling the loss in the first game hurt a lot. We've been thinking of that since it happened.
"It helped us focus and get on track."
They haven't lost again. The offense has a lot to do with that.
Jaqui Hayward quickly capped the ensuing possession, taking a short pass from Mike Lalonde 86 yards for a score.
"He has the mentality," Hayward said of Ridener. "Jake is a dog. He goes hard every play and strives to get better. He does everything he's supposed to do to get better."
The above duo sandwiched the quarterback late in the first half as well. Ridener collected another sack in the fourth quarter.
"When one gets a sack or a nice hit, it gets us going and makes the whole line want to go after the quarterback and running back," Ridener said.
Clune has at least six sacks and 45 tackles on the other side of the line. Ridener has about 90 tackles this season.
"It started in the offseason, I worked on my pass rush moves and getting in the weight room. I study NFL players and people who are better than me. I had a chip on my shoulder, we were 5-5 last year and we didn't want to do that this year.
"I learn moves. Knowing the game and knowing the formations. Watching film and how linemen pass set. I use my speed and strength to my advantage."
He spends at least four hours each week looking for new video of what works.
"Seeing how I can exploit the O-line and trying to get better every week," he said. "Everybody working in the offseason to get better and make a playoff run, that was the big goal."
He most likes to watch Ohio State grads Nick and Joey Bosa. Maybe it's a brotherly thing, as one of Ridener's triplet brothers, Carson Ridener, is a menace on offense.
Ridener played special teams last season, occasionally rotating in on defense.
He isn't brash or outspoken, more polite and reserved. He starts at defensive end-linebacker and left guard.
He pushed for the record but expected only 10 sacks.
"I was planning for one per game before the season," he said.
John Lattimore established the program record for sacks 32 years ago for Oak Harbor. The career record is 23.
"I've been thinking about it ever since I started playing high school football," Ridener said. "Every day you walk by the [record] board, wanting your name up there and wanting to do it as a sophomore. Why waste time. It's amazing.
"When I got my first sack, I knew I could go for the record. It felt so good."
Multiply that by at least 14.
mhorn@gannett.com
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Twitter: @MatthewHornNH
This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Oak Harbor's Jacob Ridener works, studies to reach football potential
