Simply put it was TOTAL DOMINATION.
Ridley dominated the game in every phase from the opening kickoff to the final gun in a 36-7 pounding of Strath Haven at George L. King Stadium in Wallingford Friday nite.
Ridley (4-0 overall, 3-0 Central League) had given up a District 1 best 6 points coming into the game and the defense did not disappoint, holding Strath Haven to 58 yards total offense through the first 45 minutes 32 seconds of the game allowing only a 75 yard run by James Griffin with 2:18 left in the game.
For as good as the Ridley defense played, the offense was not to be out done.
Casey De Prinzio open the scoring for the Green Raiders just 3:35 into the game with a 2 yard run that capped a 38 yard 4 play drive. Sam Dixon-Dugan had the first 36 yards of the drive and finished the night with 104 yards on just 13 carries and added a 1 yard touchdown run in the third quarter as Ridley amassed 407 total yards, including 280 on the ground.
“It’s a good win,” said first year head coach Dennis Decker, who led Ridley to their only PIAA State Championship apperence in 1990 as the quarterback. “I don’t know if it’s a statement win.”
The Green Raiders then put the game away in the second quarter.
Leading 7-0 going into the quarter, quarterback Colin Masterson (7-10, 122 yards 2 touchdowns) found Dion Shaw in the end zone for a 35 yard touchdown pass on the fourth play of the second quater for a 14-0 lead.
Masterson than scrambled for a 21 yard touchdown run with 2:54 before halftime. That seemed to be the lead going into the locker room, but when Shaw intercepeted a Brian Downs pass, Decker went for the nail in the coffin.
Masterson ran the 2 minute drill to perfection as the Green Raiders drove 70 yards in 1:50. A 13 yard run by Dixon-Dugan, a 12 yard catch by Norn Donkin and 2 catches totaling 32 yards by Alex Nicolino set the ball up on the 13 yard line. After a 5 yard procedure penalty put the ball back at the 18, Masterson found Vince Jennings all alone in the end zone for a 18 yard touchdown with 10 seconds before halftime for a 27-0 lead.
Ridley recieved the second half kickoff and marched right down the field as Dixon-Dugan scored with 8:43 to go in the period. Decker then showed why Ridley is such a class program. Instead of keeping the offense out on the field to try for a 2 point conversion and put the mercy rule in effect, he sent kicker Tom Bongiorno out to attempt his fifth conversion of the night. His fourth extra point made it 34-0.
At this point, Ridley started substituting freely and the Mercy rule was put into effect with 5:10 left in the game when Brent Collins was tacked for a safety by Ervin Greiss.
Ridley next plays Harriton at home next Friday nite, while Strath Haven has to regroup and get ready for Harriton’s sister school Lower Merion next saturday afternoon in Ardmore.
2 Responses
If one team gains a 35 point or more lead at any point in the game, the game clock will become a “running clock” for the rest of the game. This is a PIAA specific rule that was instituted in 2005. It is actually a good rule that speeds up blow outs.
What is the Mercy Rule? I have never heard of this, when did it become into effect?