Nov 2, 2013 4 min read

MONONGAHELA – The Ringgold High School football team found out quickly that Indiana wasn’t your average four-win team heading into the WPIAL playoffs.

The Indians came to play – and win – Friday night at Joe Montana Field and the Rams had a dogfight on their hands, one they ultimately lost, 28-14.

Indiana, out of the Greater Allegheny Conference, used a spirited effort defensively, played more physcially than the Rams and took advantage of plenty of Ringgold mistakes to advance to the second round of the WPIAL Class AAA Playoffs where it will meet West Allegheny.

“I’m very proud of our effort,” said Indiana (5-5) head coach Mark Zilinskas. “We had a game plan. We executed it and we are still alive playing football.”

Ringgold’s dual-threat quarterback Nico Law had a difficult time getting things going in the first half. The junior combined for 179 first-half yards (90 rushing), but 81 of them came on one play.

Two plays after Ringgold’s Chacar Berry recovered a fumble by Indians’ running back Ian Scott, Law broke loose with an 81-yard touchdown scamper to give the Rams a 7-0 first quarter lead.

Indiana answered with a seven-play, 80-yard touchdown drive of its own that culminated with a 3-yard touchdown run by DeQuan West.

“That was big,” said Zilinskas. “To be able to answer a big play from law with a long touchdown drive gave us some confidence and the more we didn’t allow them to move the ball on us gave us a little bit of momentum. Finally we broke through.”

The game plan for Indiana was a simple one – chew up the clock and keep the Ringgold offense on the sidelines – and the Indians executed that plan to near perfection in the first half with a combination of sweeps and high-percentage short passes.

“It’s always tough when you play a team that can move the ball and eat up enough clock as they did,” said Ringgold (7-3) head coach Matt Humbert. “It stops your offense from getting enough repetition and get in a rhythm.”

The Indians had 14 first downs in the first half while defensively they slowed down the Ringgold offense.

Aside from the big run from Law and one big pass play to Alan Pritchett, the Rams found it difficult to move the chains as the Indians clamped down on the run. Aside from the production from Law, Ringgold managed just 21 other first-half yards.

“They are big and physical,” said Humbert. “Probably the second-biggest team we have seen all season. They were physical and we didn’t do much against them. We kept waiting for the big play but we never produced it.”

The game went into the locker room tied at 7-7 at the half and there wasn’t much action until late in the third quarter when Indiana quarterback Sean Thompson gave the Indians a 14-7 lead with a 1-yard quarterback sneak.

The drive was set up by a 35-yard from West, who finished the game with 153 yards on 19 carries, with a pair of touchdowns.

After a fumble by Law that was recovered by Indiana’s Malik Meterko, West scored on a 3-yard touchdown run to make it 21-7 midway through the fourth quarter.

But Ringgold wasn’t done, as with just over five minutes remaining, Law connected with Pritchett for a 62-yard pass to set up a 2-yard touchdown run by Berry to close the gap to 21-14.

The Ringgold defense forced an Indiana three-and-out and looked like they would get the ball back with just over three minutes left, but Brandon Thomas fumbled the ensuing punt and Indiana recovered to put the game on ice.

The Indians added another touchdown when Jordan Cassess picked off Law and returned it 19 yards for a touchdown to make it a 28-14 game.

Law finished the evening with over 300 combined yards while Pritchett finished with seven catches for 152 yards.

Ultimately, the mistakes doomed the Rams in as they fumbled three times, threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown and had over 70 yards in penalties on the night.

“It all comes down to mistakes,” said Humbert. “We had some chances and every time we got some life we shot ourselves in the foot. Every game we lost this season it was all about the mistakes. I’m proud of our guys though. We had a difficult schedule and won seven games. We had a good season, but didn’t play well enough to continue it. In my book they had a great season”