By Thomas Grant Jr.
The preseason did not end on winning notes for Northeast public school teams.
Richland Northeast, Spring Valley and Westwood all suffered shutout losses. At the Chapin Kickoff Classic, Blythewood fell 18-7 to Class 3A second-ranked Clinton and Ridge View played Chapin to a 10-10 tie.
Many of the head coaches were quick to turn their attention to the respective season-openers. In the case of Spring Valley head coach Nygel Pearson, just knowing archrival Richland Northeast is the season-opener is more than enough motivation for his players.
“We love those kind of games,” said Pearson, following the 20-0 loss to Class 4A eighth-ranked Midland Valley in Chapin. “We’re going to be fine. I think we’ve got some confidence issues that as coaches we’ve got to get our guys over that hump and then we’ll be fine going into next week.”
Blythewood managed to avoid a shutout with a Mel Little touchdown reception with 1:19 left against the Red Devils. An interception by Tyler Davis regained the football for the Bengals in what head coach James Martin acknowledged was a difficult matchup because of the wing-T spread offense utilized by Clinton.
“Our focus is really for (Friday against Nation Ford),” Martin said. “That’s the season. I like to see the effort. I like to see us moving. I like to get a lot of kids on the field tonight and that’s what we take away from the first scrimmage to tonight and now the season really begins for us.”
Ridge View took a 10-0 lead in the Classic finale against the host school Eagles. Quarterback Tre Howard rushed for a touchdown and Issaija Yohannes kicked a field goal following a Cayden Harris interception.
Both Howard and Harris were named the team’s Offensive and Defensive Players of the Game.
In the second quarter, Chapin made a goal-line stand to take over at its own 5. Quarterback Brady Albro found Gaffney transfer Stone Furrey for a long completion and, following two penalties on the Blazer, completed a 4-yard touchdown pass to Cooper Canady to make it 10-7.
After Chapin’s next drive ended with an interception by Quency Grant, Ridge View returned the favor with a forced turnover. Linebacker Harrison Ambrose blindsided Howard with a hit that dislodged the football.
Gavin Stam made the recovery near midfield and raced toward the Ridge View endzone. Sprinting in close pursuit was the Blazer senior Bradley Wilson who forced Stam out of bounds at the 5-yard line.
“Brad’s a kid that plays sports year-round, does everything right” Ridge View head coach Derek Howard said. “He hasn’t necessarily been our starter, but he’s always been able to produce when he gets in, and that play is a great example of the type of kid he is because he never gives up and he never gave up on that play.”
The Eagles settled on a game-tying field goal by Cooper Derrick with 2:27 left. Ridge View moved into position for a game-winning field goal from 30 yards, but Yohannes’ attempt missed wide right with six seconds left.
“We didn’t make that last field goal, but I felt good about putting the kids in some game-like opportunities,” Howard said. “You know, a chance to win a game-winning field goal. You’d like that to make that kick. The chance to get into our 2-minute offense because we kept our (second team) in and that was a great opportunity for us to work our 2-minute.”
Ridge View opens Friday at Fairfield Central. Its non-region schedule includes back-to-back games against preseason Class 5A fourth-ranked Northwestern and top-ranked and defending champion Dutch Fork and Class 4A fifth-ranked Camden.
“I’m just excited by the season,” Howard said. “It’s a great schedule and we’re excited to be able to play some really good football teams. So I can’t wait to see the growth of this program over the season.”
FRIDAY’S SCHEDULE
(All games at 7:30 p.m.)
Cardinal Newman at St. Joseph’s Catholic School
Nation Ford at Blythewood
Ridge View at Fairfield Central
Spring Valley at Richland Northeast
A.C. Flora at Westwood
