Photo by Juli Kroon Photography
By Mathew DeGeorge
Ridley coach Dave Wood waited about as long as he could last week — which is to say, until Saturday’s video session — to instruct his players about the mantle they assumed in last Friday’s win over Garnet Valley.
When they entered halftime Friday leading but hardly comfortable against Strath Haven, the Green Raiders knew they’d need more to banish any risk of that dreaded “l” word.
Ridley ensured no letdown materialized, suffocating Haven in the third quarter for a 38-17 win.
The ball control so prevalent against Garnet Valley kicked into overdrive in the third, with a pair of sustained drives leading to 10 points. By the time Ociele Miller stepped into the end zone on the first offensive snap of the fourth quarter, Ridley (4-0 overall, 3-0 Central League) had run 24 offensive plays since halftime. Haven had just three, facing a 31-17 deficit.
“Eight-minute drive, seven-minute drive, with players going both ways, they’re just tired,” Ridley defensive back/receiver Allen Martin said. “They’re exhausted. And as soon as they get back with the ball on offense, our defense can just dominate them.”
