Ridgewood embracing underdog role against defending state champion South Range
WEST LAFAYETTE — Ridgewood has no problem playing the underdog role.
It's where the seventh-seeded Generals sit facing the defending Division V state champion and second seed Canfield South Range (10-1).
Ridgewood (8-3) has embraced that role all season and is ready to do it again at 7 p.m. Friday at South Range.
"That's been our mentality all season," senior Dyllan Austin said. "There's no pressure on us. We need to take it a play at a time, stick to what we do and try to find a way to give ourselves a chance."
Raiders are a formidable foe
The Raiders may have some new faces, but last year's state champions have been impressive this year. They have held six opponents to 14 points or less and are 10-1 after running for more than 430 yards and six TDs in a 43-20 victory over Navarre Fairless in the first round.
South Range's lone loss came to Division II Uniontown Green, 21-7, in Week 2, and the Raiders won the Northeast 8 Conference for the fourth straight year. Their offense is led by quarterback Tristan Toy, while running backs Blake Ewert and Aiden Dominguez add to a talented backfield, and Brady Crumbacher is the main target when Toy goes to the air.
Veteran coach John Slusser has been impressed with South Range on film, noting the three games he's seen the Raiders did not punt.
"They are extremely good at what they do. They're sound on both sides of the ball, and we have to be sound at what we do," Slusser said. "They only seem to get themselves off the field, but we have to tackle well. We've struggled, at times, with that, but we need to be physical and get off the field when we can."
Ridgewood has thrived in those spots. The defense has only allowed the opposition to convert 39 of 114 third downs and less than 25% on fourth down, while the offense has found ways to prolong drives when needed.
"We need to match their physicality and get stops when we can," Slusser said. "We've been really good in that area on defense, and our offense has been able to convert those downs. We need to have those kind of drives and be able to finish them to give ourselves a chance."
Execution has been a focal point this week, said senior lineman Cam Stanton. The players understand the importance of following the game plan and executing in all three phases.
"We have to do what our coaches have been telling us all week," Stanton said. "(South Range is) very good. They're physical and disciplined. We have to be like that, too. It starts with doing what listening to our coaches and working together."
Team effort key to Ridgewood's success
Being a team is why the Generals are in this spot. They don't have the big name playmakers, but collectively, both sides of the ball have worked as one to reach Week 12.
"We're an old-school, smash-mouth team. We want to work our way down the field," Austin said. "This team gets along well. We're in this together, and we have to stay with what's gotten us here."
Stanton echoed similar thoughts, adding chemistry has allowed Ridgewood to thrive in the face of adversity.
"People didn't give us much of a chance at the beginning of the season, but we've grown up together. This is the best chemistry I've felt with a group," he remarked. "When you get to this point, you face good teams. We're not going to give up and we expect to give ourselves a chance."
Having that team mentality is among the reasons the Generals have reached Week 12. They have given themselves a chance nearly each week and have secured several wins in the final quarter.
However, slow starts against Indian Valley and Garaway led to two of the Generals' three losses.
If Ridgewood wants an opportunity to upset the Raiders, Slusser said his team must start strong and play smart.
"We need to get three stops if they have the ball five times in the first half," Slusser said. "We need to find a way to keep it close going to the fourth like we did with West Branch to give ourselves a chance. We did that nine times this season and won eight of those, but the two times we didn't, we were overmatched and couldn't dig out of the holes we put ourselves into.
"We can't do that Friday night," he added. "They're a quality team, but we know what it takes on our end to give ourselves a chance. That's what we're looking for on Friday night."
bhannahs@gannett.com; X: @brandonhannahs
This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: Underdog Ridgewood not intimidated by South Range
