Emotions run high in Ringgold’s victory over LH
Katie Roupe/Observer-Reporter Ringgold’s Connor Garry tackles Laurel Highlands’ Jimmy Pierce during the second quarter of the game during the last drive before the half.
Katie Roupe/Observer-Reporter Ringgold’s Brian Vandusen runs the ball down the field for a first down while Laurel Highlands’ Hunter Sloboda tries to tackle.
Katie Roupe/Observer-Reporter Ringgold’s Chacar Berry runs the ball down the field for a touchdown during the first quarter of the game against Laurel Highlands on Friday, October 16.
Katie Roupe/Observer-Reporter Ringgold’s Dave Carpenter takes down Laurel Highlands’ Lucas Boyle during the first half of Friday night’s game.
Katie Roupe/Observer-Reporter Ringgold’s Dave Carpenter misses a pass from quarterback George Martin during the first quarter of Friday night’s game.
MONONGAHELA – When they weren’t shoving, pushing, jawing at each other and getting penalized, the football teams at Ringgold and Laurel Highlands played an exciting game.
Ringgold won this Class AAA Big Ten Conference game 32-21 but lost running back Chacar Berry to an ejection in the fourth quarter. He will not be eligible to play next week against Elizabeth Forward.
Almost lost in the emotions was that Ringgold clinched a playoff berth and could finish as high as first place in the conference by winning out.
Laurel Highlands was penalized eight times for 95 yards, including a double penalty for delay of game on a spike and an unsportsmanlike conduct for arguing the call.
”We had some bad calls go against us, that’s for sure,” said Laurel Highlands head coach Zach Just. “I’m not sure how my quarterback took so many late hits and no personal fouls and we were getting penalized for snapping the ball too quick.”
Just was referring to the spike to stop the clock.
”It was the worst call ever,” said Just. “As long as you throw it forward, you are allowed to do it. I have no idea where that ruling came from.”
Ringgold led 19-15 at halftime and stretched it to 26-15 on the first series of the second half when Berry ran 19 yards for a touchdown. He was ejected with just under six minutes to play after appearing to say something to an official. A few plays earlier, Ringgold was penalized for a late hit and Laurel Highlands drew a penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct. Some pushing and shoving went on but was quickly broken up.
”I thought (the officials) had no control over the game,” Just said. “I thought they were awful. It didn’t lose us the game, but no player deserves to take those shots. They are supposed to protect the players and they did not do that.”
Laurel Highlands made it 26-21 when quarterback Jimmy Pierce scored his third touchdown on a two-yard run with 2:38 to play. Pierce drove LH to Ringgold’s 18-yard line but a pass to the end zone was intercepted and returned 98 yards by Dalton Holt with :06 left to ice the game.
”We were fortunate to win, played totally undisciplined,” said Ringgold head coach Nick Milchovich. “I’m very disappointed. I understand we won the game. Their offense frustrates you … but we have to play with better composure. I’m very disappointed. I don’t want to bad-mouth officials. That’s not why it was a tight game.”
Ringgold quarterback George Martin scored on two one-yard quarterback sneaks and completed 13 of 22 passes for 184 yards. Brenden Small, who will probably replace Berry next week, rushed for 36 yards on 10 carries.
”It’s next man up,” said Milchovich. “We have confidence Bam Small can do the job.”
In a wild and fast-paced first half, Ringgold built a 19-15 lead but only because of a last-second stop of LH on a play from the three-yard line.
Martin capped two Rams drives with one-yard quarterback sneaks. The first one capped an 82-yard drive that ate up 13 plays and more than four minutes. The second one capped a 70-yard drive and was the seventh straight running play in a nine-play drive. That score made it 19-15.
Laurel Highlands’ first possession was a thing of beauty as Pierce directed a 15-play, 78-yard drive that chewed up 5:43. Pierce scored from the six on a keeper.
Ringgold answered on the next possession with Berry going over from four yards. The score was set up by two completions that covered 41 yards by Holt.