Ringgold headed home for postseason
Jim McNutt/Observer-Reporter Chacar Berry (3) drags Trinity's Brandon McGavitt (6) into the end zone with him as the Rams scored their 5th touchdown in the 1st half. The Ringgold Rams kept the Trinity Hillers on their heels all night as the Rams scored often throughout the game held at the Trinity High School field in North Franklin Township Friday, October 25, 2013.
Jim McNutt/Observer-Reporter Ringgold's Chacar Berry (3) tries unsuccessfully to pull down Trinity's Nick Matthews (18) by the ankles in the 1st quarter. The Ringgold Rams kept the Trinity Hillers on their heels all night as the Rams scored often throughout the game held at the Trinity High School field in North Franklin Township Friday, October 25, 2013.
Jim McNutt/Observer-Reporter Tirnity's Brandon McGavitt (6) leaps and holds onto a pass over top a Ringgold defender in the 2nd quarter. The Ringgold Rams kept the Trinity Hillers on their heels all night as the Rams scored often throughout the game held at the Trinity High School field in North Franklin Township Friday, October 25, 2013.
It isn’t fun being in the same football conference with teams like Thomas Jefferson and West Mifflin. A saving grace for Ringgold was knowing that a third-place finish in the Class AAA Big Nine Conference could result in a home playoff game.
As Week 9 rolled around, Rams head coach Matt Humbert knew all his team would have to do is beat 1-7 Trinity. On paper, the task might not seem too daunting, but the Hillers were competitive at West Mifflin in a 43-28 loss a week ago. Plus, the Hillers were playing at home, and Humbert had to guard against his team taking Trinity lightly.
Nico Law ensured that wouldn’t happen.
Law ran for three first-half touchdowns and totaled 418 yards, including going over 1,000 yards rushing for the season, as Ringgold coasted to a 50-17 victory Friday at Trinity’s Hiller Field in a Big Nine Conference game.
“We’ll see what they have lined up for us on Monday,” said Humbert. “I hope they take our body of work into consideration. I motivated the kids by dangling that home playoff game, but your goal is to win games and make the playoffs.”
The victory puts Ringgold at 6-2, 7-2, and clinches third place in the conference and secures a home playoff game for the first round. The Rams last had a home postseason game in 2011 when they defeated Highlands, 14-10.
Law entered the game with 885 yards rushing. He gained 112 on his first three carries, which included an 88-yard touchdown run. He had 140 yards at halftime and finished with 239. Law already had over 1,000 yards passing on the season and completed 17 of 23 passes for 179 yards.
“It’s great for the program,” Humbert said. “I’m proud of him. This year I think he’s really bought into everything and he’s listening to what we had him do, and he’s trusting us. He’s a special football player. It’s a gratifying experience to be a part of.”
Law scored on three of his first five rushing attempts. His 88-yard dash came after two penalties backed Ringgold up to its own 6-yard line. He also scored on runs of 14 and 16 yards in the first half.
The only blemish on Law’s first half was when he was intercepted by Gaage Marry deep in Rams’ territory. Trinity (1-7, 1-8) got a field goal out of the drive that made the score 14-3, but Ringgold proceeded to score on its next three drives to push the score to 35-3 at halftime.
After Law torched Trinity’s defense in the early going, it was Chacar Berry’s turn. He scored touchdown runs of 5 and 43 yards. Berry finished with 106 yards on 12 carries.
Mitch Kendra provided a spark for Trinity in the second half, scoring on a 47-yard run and hauling in two passes for 74 yards, including a 39-yard touchdown reception from Nick Moretti.
The young Hillers, who won at least five games each of the last three seasons, will look to retool for next season. Head coach Ryan Coyle made sure to go up to each senior in the locker room after the game to give each a few quiet words of encouragement.
“There’s not much you can say,” said Coyle. “They worked hard and never quit. There was improvement over the course of the season, which is something you look for. There’s no words to describe a lackluster season, but you end up living to tell about it and you’re a better person for it.”
The game wasn’t without controversy. Late in the first half, Berry appeared to hit Trinity quarterback Forrest Cullings in the knee with his helmet, Dayshore Majors’ touchdown reception late in the third quarter appeared to hit the ground, and there were a slew of personal-foul penalties, particularly in the second half.
Cullings didn’t return to the game after receiving the hit. He was replaced by Garrett Briant.
Humbert was also concerned with hits his kicker, Josh Briscoe, was taking, so he went for a two-point conversion after Law’s 90-yard touchdown run with 2:36 left in the game.
Game notes
Ringgold did not punt in the game. … Trinity does not expect to schedule a Week 10 game. … Majors caught seven passes for 71 yards. Teammate Alan Pritchett also caught seven passes for 70 yards. … Briant went 4-for-10 for 68 yards.