Law, Berry run things for Rams
When Nick Milchovich took over as Ringgold’s head football coach last spring, he watched game film from the 2013 season and saw an incredibly athletic quarterback who could make every throw and improvise when plays broke down.
When camp opened in August, he witnessed senior Nico Law’s ability in person. Milchovich had the perfect fit for his spread offense, and with a hole at free safety on defense, he asked Law to give the position a try.
Did he worry his star quarterback could get injured tackling opposing players?
“You can get injured walking to your car, so the thought never even crossed my mind,” Milchovich said bluntly. “Nico is an athlete. I knew he could play the position and play it well.”
Law, a 2013 Observer-Reporter Elite 11 selection who holds Division I scholarship offers from Ohio and James Madison, was more than receptive when approached about the idea.
“I was ready to play defense. I needed to play both sides of the ball,” Law said. “It’s been incredible. I get to play the whole game instead of sitting out. I hate standing on the sideline.”
Law got his wish and Milchovich’s gamble paid off in a big way. Along with gaining 1,779 total yards and scoring 22 touchdowns on offense, Law recorded 19 tackles with three interceptions and two defensive touchdowns.
None was bigger than last week’s game-clinching, 55-yard interception return for a touchdown that lifted the Rams (9-1) to a win over Gateway in the first round of the WPIAL Class AAA playoffs. The victory advanced the Rams into tonight’s quarterfinals, where they will face fourth-seeded Hampton (9-1) at West Allegheny High School. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m.
“Quite frankly, he took the game over,” Milchovich said. “He made three or four plays in that game that only two or three kids in the WPIAL could have made. I’d like to sit here and tell you that’s coaching, but it comes from above. It’s pure athleticism and talent.”
Law has been making game-changing plays since he took over as the Rams’ starting quarterback as a junior. Last season, he became one of a handful players in WPIAL history to eclipse 1,000 yards rushing and 1,000 yards passing in a single season. He finished with 2,704 total yards and 28 touchdowns.
The one concern Milchovich had was the amount of times Law ran the football last year. So when he watched film, a small-statured running back stood out – Chacar Berry. The vision for the Rams’ new offense began to take shape.
Berry, who has rushed for 1,254 yards and 18 touchdowns this season, paired with elusive freshman tailback Brenden Small to take pressure off Law. A strong running game allows Milchovich to be creative with play-calling and a quarterback who can think on the fly helped the offense average 38 points per game.
“(Against Gateway) on a few occasions, we called four verticals and thought, ‘Hey, if no one is open, he’ll run,'” Milchovich said. “I’m not embarrassed to say that. We’re definitely not afraid to do that. He makes it easy because you know if you make a mistake, he can make those bad plays into good ones. He makes the coach look good. That’s for certain.”
With Berry expected to be a game-time decision because of an ankle injury suffered last week, the Rams might need to lean on Law and Small to lead an offense against a big defensive front. The Talbots are allowing just 11.2 points per game.
“That’s a very good football team,” Law said. “I feel like if we play our game and don’t make any mistakes, I think we should win. I’m confident in our group.”