[tps_title]Ridley Green Raiders [/tps_title]
PETE BANNAN DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Ridley football players huddle during August football camp.
Wood may throw passing into Green Raiders’ mix
RIDLEY TWP. >> Dave Wood’s first year at the helm of Ridley was a successful enterprise.
Under Wood, a veteran coach of 26 years who cut his teeth at the collegiate level, the Green Raiders advanced to the District 1 playoffs for the first time since 2012, earned a piece of the Central League crown and finished with a shiny 11-2 overall record.
Not bad at all. 
If there was one criticism, however undeserved, it centered around Wood’s approach on offense. The Quarterback High of Delaware County, Ridley had transformed into a run-first machine. When you have an athletic quarterback and two excellent senior running backs, it’s difficult to make a case for passing the ball more. Quarterback Cade Stratton and running backs Brock Anderson, an All-Delco, and Malik Young all rushed for more than 700 yards. Together, they scampered for 29 touchdowns.
Wood isn’t making any promises, but with senior running back Ociele “OC” Miller as the lone returning skill player, Wood may be willing to open up the playbook a little more. Call it a baptism by fire for some of the new players. Senior Nick Layden, who backed up Stratton the last two years, will be the team’s top quarterback.
“When I take a look at Nick … he got a chance to learn the whole year behind Stratton. He throws ball really well, so maybe we can mix it up a little bit more,” Wood said. “Last year, we had such a great player in Stratton and people would say, why don’t you throw more? Fact is, we didn’t need to throw the ball as much last year.
“With this group of young skill kids, we may have to throw the ball a little bit more. We are willing to do that. We feel really good up front and we feel we can protect Nick. They are things I feel good about. Nick’s been in the system for two years and he really understands it.”
In the passing game, Layden will rely on wide receivers Ryan Meyer, who saw some action last fall, and junior Zach Dluzniewski. While Miller will receive the bulk of the carries, expect fierce competition for playing time from junior newcomers Hassan Chandler, Shahir Morales, Ellijah Yakpassuo and Jack Liberio.
There’s no sugarcoating the fact that Ridley is a young team with question marks. After all, Wood graduated 33 players. But there is experience and depth on both sides of the line. Senior Chris Weber, who started every game last fall, is the anchor on the offensive line. Meanwhile, Joe Spillman and Nick Lapish return on the defensive line. Senior Sean Crowley, a three-year starter, is a game changer at linebacker.
Varsity newcomers Jimmy Bramwell and Zach Mason are 6-3, 300 pounders who will compete for starting positions. Ryan Kennedy, Kenichi Walsh and Jarrett Tognucci will also be counted upon to solidify the lines.
“In my opinion, the D-line is going to be better and the O-line is going to be better,” Weber said. “As a unit we are really coming together.’
“We have to make sure everybody is doing the right thing, not messing around in practice,” Crowley said. “Coach Wood says to stay focused. When he talks, you take a knee, you listen to every word. We just have to keep improving.”
Rough Road
Ridley begins the season with a tough nonleague battle against Father Judge of the Catholic League. It doesn’t get easier from there. The Green Raiders kick off their Central League schedule with Haverford, followed by Garnet Valley and Marple Newtown, three teams that are expected to vie for the title. After playing Harriton in Week 5, the Raiders will travel to Springfield, which split the Central League title with Ridley and Marple Newtown last fall.
“We want to take it all this year,” Spillman said. “We’re playing a tough game every single week, and hopefully that will carry us through to the playoffs.”
Returning the Favor
Ridley has revenge on its mind against a pair of Central League foes in Haverford and Springfield. The Green Raiders came out flat against the Fords in their second game of the season, then dropped an overtime decision to Springfield later in the year.
“We have to get those teams back this year,” Crowley said. “We want to win every Central League game.”
Underrated
In his first year playing football, then-junior kicker Kyran Baker was a pleasant surprise for the Green Raiders. He drilled 41 of 43 extra-point attempts and went 5-for-7 in field goal tries, including a long of 40 yards. Baker figures to be one of the top kickers in the county this fall.
By Matt Smith; mattsmith@21st-centurymedia.com
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