For Ringgold, this victory was special
MONONGAHELA – It might seem a bit misleading based on the final score, but the Ringgold offense needed a little bit of help in Friday night’s playoff victory that pushed the Rams into the quarterfinals of the WPIAL Class AAA playoffs.
Fortunately for head coach Nick Milchovich, the defense and special teams were up to the task.
So was Brenden Small, whose three touchdowns also provided the spark Ringgold needed to roll into the quarterfinals, knocking out Ambridge 35-0 at Joe Montana Stadium.
”We flipped a switch,” said Milchovich. “We knew when it was time for the playoffs, it was a renewed focus. The kids were locked in all week.”
Ringgold (9-1) will play Mars next week at a site and time to be determined.
The Ringgold defense intercepted quarterback Austin French three times, each time converting the ensuing possession into seven points, and special teams also played a big factor.
The biggest individual impact was by Small, who consistently got to the outside in the ground game for big gains. Seven of his eight carries went for at least 12 yards, and he finished with 126 total. He scored on his first two touches and three of his first four.
”The offensive line blocked well,” said Small. “Good team effort.”
Ringgold could move the ball in the early going, but each time the Ambridge defense stiffened and kept the Rams off the scoreboard. It wasn’t until late in the second quarter that Ringgold finally hit pay dirt, and it was the defense that put the Rams in position.
David Carpenter’s interception and 51-yard return set up a two-play drive capped by the first of Small’s touchdowns, from 17 yards, with 5:18 left in the half.
Just a couple of minutes later, following a quick three-and-out, Dalton Holt returned a punt 42 yards, setting up Ringgold at the Bridgers 28-yard line. Again, it took the Rams just two plays to score, with Small, on another jet sweep the terrorized Ambridge all night, going in nearly untouched from 25 yards out.
”When you get a short field like that, you have to capitalize,” said Milchovich. “When they’re going to turn the ball over like that, you have to take advantage, and we did.”
A second interception, this time by Darius Tyree in a jump-ball situation near midfield, set the stage for Ringgold to go on a 60-yard scoring drive just before halftime. Holt caught a four-yard touchdown pass from George Martin with just six seconds left in the half.
Midway through the third quarter and still trailing 21-0, Ambridge coach and Washington graduate Dan Bradley decided to try converting a fourth and 2 from his own 34, but Jordan Taylor, who had just run for 19 yards, was stuffed for no gain. Five plays later, Small scored on a 19-yard run and Ringgold led 28-0.
”I felt it was now or never,” said Bradley. “I just thought it was a valuable possession that we needed to take advantage of.”
Chacar Berry, who served as the workhorse all night with 19 carries for 120 yards but hadn’t scored, finally found the end zone late in the third quarter for the final points of the game.
”I wouldn’t trade those (Small and Berry) for anybody,” said Milchovich. “I feel I’m blessed with two good backs, and we’re gonna use them. They’re not the two biggest guys, but, man, are they tough to tackle.”
Jordan Briscoe’s interception set up the Berry touchdown. Briscoe also had a sack for a Ringgold defense that held Ambridge (5-5) to only five first downs and 154 yards of offense.
”Our kids weren’t themselves early, and we weren’t the better team tonight,” said Bradley.