By Thomas Grant Jr.

After a 0-2 start, the Ridge View football team is finding its groove entering Region 5-5A play.

The Blazers rolled to a 46-14 home win over White Knoll to close out non-region play.

It was their third straight win and saw quarterback Tre Howard throw for 250 yards and three touchdowns.

Ridge View (3-2) opens region play at Harry Parone Stadium against winless Spring Valley. The Blazers have won the last four meetings against the Vikings (0-7, 0-1), who have dropped 15 consecutive games.

They have also been outscored 106-0 in their last three losses. Spring Valley has played 13 consecutive scoreless quarters, the last points scored in the fourth quarter against Lexington.

Blythewood also played its Region 5-5A opener last week against Sumter. A 90-yard touchdown run by Antonio Jeter was the lone touchdown for the Bengals in a 35-7 loss.

Linebacker Chris Long had 13 tackles and defensive back Zayvion Roary finished with 11 tackles for Blythewood.

Redhawks fall to Demons

Westwood got an early start to Week 6 play with a Thursday night home game against Lugoff-Elgin.

The winless Redhawks were hoping to continue their success against the Demons. They had won the previous two meetings, including last year’s 34-28 double-overtime victory.

Getting three touchdowns from Shrine Bowl selections Tiyon Fanning and Eric Richardson Jr., Lugoff-Elgin defeated Westwood 30-20.

The Redhawks fell behind 13-0 before Jovan Howard had the first of his two rushing touchdowns. Westwood managed to stay within 16-7 at the half as it forced Lugoff-Elgin to settle on three field goals by Wyatt Rabon on four drives into the Red Zone.

Down 16-7, quarterback Kylen Dobson found senior Angelo Rios for a 54-yard touchdown to within 16-14 in the third quarter. Both Fanning and Richardson scored the final two touchdowns for the Demons.

Westwood (0-6, 0-1) entered the game with its sixth different starting offensive line. A rash of injuries have forced head coach Stephen Burris to play younger players.

“We’re a process-oriented program,” Burris said. “Every coach wants to be playing their best ball in October, and that’s where we’re heading.”

OTHER WEEK 6 SCORES

Dreher 37, Richland Northeast 12

WEEK 7 SCHEDULE

Northside Christian Academy at Cardinal Newman

Richland Northeast at Lancaster

Ridge View at Spring Valley

Westwood at Dreher

Blythewood is idle

(Photo by Tre Howard)