ARTICLE TOOLS

E-mail story

Comments

Printer friendly version

iPod friendly version

Share This

Text Size: A A A A

East Ridge runs net 262 yards in romp

By: Ward Gossett
(Contact)

Included in this article

Staff Photo by D. Patrick Harding East Ridge's Tim Moore (8) avoids the tackles of the Lookout Valley defense on the opening play of their Friday night game at East Ridge.

Sometimes it was clockwork orange and other times it was orange clockwork, but East Ridge coach Mike Martin felt a load had been lifted Friday night after his Pioneers pulled off a 31-0 victory and avenged last year’s 25-20 loss to Lookout Valley.

East Ridge, sporting uniforms very similar to those worn by the school’s 1958 team, overcame 120 yards worth of penalties, forged a 21-0 halftime lead and coasted home for Martin’s first win as the Pioneers’ coach.

“A couple of guys called me earlier in the day and wished me well. They asked me if I was nervous and I said no. And then about 4 o’clock it hit me,” said Martin, who left a successful Meigs County program. “I felt I was carrying the community on my shoulders. I wanted so well for us to do well, and the kids came through. It’s a big burden off my back.”

Employing a stable of a half-dozen running backs, East Ridge rushed for 262 yards, 95 of which came on a second-quarter touchdown run by C.J. Jones. The senior finished with 130 yards and two TDs on six carries.

Not to be outdone, senior quarterback Adam Long — like Jones a first-year starter — completed five of eight passes for 115 yards, including a 62-yard scoring bomb to Austin Roden in the second quarter.

“We came out throwing after giving them a taste of the running game, and we were able to execute,” Long said.

Fullback Gunner Miller, who was expected to carry the brunt of East Ridge’s offense while continuing as a defensive mainstay at linebacker, had just six carries but picked up 36 yards. Most came between the tackles.

“The tailbacks — all of them — found the holes, and their speed took over,” Miller said. “On defense, we wanted to come out and control the ball, and we hit hard.”

The six backs who got touches and averaged more than 9 yards per carry were Jones, Miller, Bre King, Donnie Garner, Chase Steele and Cadarius Lovingood.

“We did some good things and we good a good of executing early,” Martin said. “I think we got a little tired in the second half. We can be four or five times better. We have to build and build and build and get better. We have to come ready to work on Monday.”

The win was the Pioneers’ first season-opening victory since a 28-21 win over Bradley Central in 2003. It was the first opening defeat for graduation-depleted Lookout Valley since a 34-7 loss to Huntland in 2005.

“I don’t necessarily think we’re learning as we go,” Yellow Jackets coach Tony Webb said. “We can have a good football season. I thought we got better as the game went on.

Comments