Delco Football Friday: Ridley feels comfortable in underdog role against North Penn
RIDLEY TWP. >> If you thought Ridley was content with making the District 1 Class 6A tournament, then you don’t know the team.
And if you thought the Green Raiders, the No. 16 seed in the tourney, are carrying themselves like a shrinking underdog about to face off against mighty, top-seeded North Penn, then you don’t know the team.
Ridley’s remarkable six-game winning streak, a season saver if there ever was one, is not a fluke. Instead of quitting, which is tempting for high schools athletes when you’re 0-4, the Green Raiders believed in themselves when no one else did. So, what has readying for Friday night’s playoff opener against the Knights, which will be played at Wissahickon High School at 7 o’clock, changed about Ridley?
Well, nothing really.
“The intensity is different this week,” said standout running back Elijah Yakpasuo, who is among the county leaders with 1,079 yards rushing, “but we play and prepare for every game the same way.”
“We’ve been locked in,” said senior quarterback Jack Bakey, who has 880 yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground. “We’re just working hard and trying to get this win on Friday.”
Since their first win of the season, the Green Raiders are averaging 38.8 points and 400.2 yards per game. And this week they cracked the Daily Times Super 7 (No. 5) for the first time this year.
But none of that stuff matters. It’s about North Penn, which rolled to a Suburban One League Continental title. The Knights have athletes across the board. Top running back Julian White has been sidelined with an ankle injury, but backup R.J. McNamara is coming off a 91-yard, two-touchdown effort last week. Quarterback Solomon Robinson is 6-3, 210 with a big arm and has a top target in senior wide receiver Shamar Edwards, who is a threat to score every time he touches the ball.
‘We’ve got to be physical on the line, because we know the line is going to be a major factor,” tackle Tommy Bramwell said.
Ridley got a taste of the postseason atmosphere with its playoff-clinching victory at Haverford last week.
“That was like the first round of the playoffs for us,” Bakey said, “because we knew if we didn’t win that game, we would be done until Thanksgiving.”
The game was moved to Wissahickon High School due to fear of inclement weather. Kickoff is 7 p.m.
“We’ve been doubted, but I believe now that we’re just not used to losing anymore,” Yakpasuo said. “After that fourth loss, everything clicked. We knew we had to step it up. We worked hard and got into the playoffs. That says a lot about us as a team.”
In other Class 6A district playoff games:
Pennsbury at Garnet Valley >> The third-seeded Jaguars (10-0) are the superior team and should have no trouble disposing of the 14th-seeded Falcons (5-5), who prepared for the playoffs by getting walloped by Neshaminy last week, 35-7.
Under coach Mike Ricci the Jags are making their 14th playoff appearance and have played in each of the last two district championship games. Garnet is the top offense in Delaware County in terms of points (38.1) and total yardage (425.2) per game. Defensively the Jags have been led by linemen Cade Brennan (57.5 tackles, 7.5 sacks) and Evan Hrivnak (45 tackles, nine sacks).
Haverford at Neshaminy >> With their loss to Ridley last week, the ninth-seeded Fords (8-2) missed an opportunity to host a first-round game. Haverford has qualified for the district playoffs four straight years and bowed in the first round each time. But with senior quarterback Jake Ruane (1,777 yards, 17 touchdowns), versatile player Trey Blair and defensive lineman Paul Denman showing the way, this could be the year the Fords finally break through.
The No. 8 Indians (7-3) wrapped up the Suburban One League National title last week. The Fords will have their hands full trying to contain running back Chris James and quarterback Brody McAndrew.
Upper Darby at Downingtown West >> The Royals (7-3) backed into the postseason on the heels of lopsided losses against Ridley and Garnet Valley. When they’re going well the Royals have a strong defense that has forced a county-leading 26 turnovers. Bruising tailback Kareem Adams has rushed for 1,084 yards and 13 scores.
Running back Tyriq Lewis has been awesome for the fourth-seeded Whippets (9-1) . Lewis ran for 203 of his 926 yards in last week’s 48-26 rout of West Chester East. Ryan Wetzel has played well at quarterback after West lost starter Will Howard for the season in early October.
In District 1 Class 5A:
Kennett at Penn Wood >> The Patriots destroyed Academy Park 40-20 last Friday to earn their second straight Del Val League title and the top seed in the tournament. Edmund Dennis (secondary) and Christian Suber (line) lead a defense that is allowing only 181.6 yards per game. Desman Johnson has thrown for a county-leading 2,207 yards and 25 touchdowns.
All-Delco wide receiver Kennedy Poles is 14 yards away from breaking the county’s career receiving record that has stood since 1999.
The Blue Demons (4-6) began the year 0-4, won a few games and secured a playoff spot as one of three teams with a losing record. Look out for senior Mitch Kosara, who has 47 catches for 835 yards and five scores.
Marple Newtown at Radnor >> This all-Central League battle is a rematch of Radnor’s 27-24 overtime decision Aug. 31. Since that the third-seeded Raiders (8-2), ranked third in the Super 7, have flourished while the 14th-seeded Tigers (8-2) have struggled to find consistency. Radnor’s Matt Cohen is the third-leading rusher in Delco with 1,093 yards and 11 touchdowns. MN receiver Colin Ferry set the county record for most receiving yards in a game (314) in a victory over Penncrest last week.
Strath Haven at Academy Park >> This is only the fourth meeting all-time between these schools. The 13th-seeded Panthers (5-5) have been carried by senior running back Zack Hussein, who is the top rusher in Delco with 1,311 yards and 19 scores. Senior linebacker Ethan Belville heads the defense. The No. 4 Knights (8-2) allowed a season-worst 529 yards of total offense against Penn Wood. Senior quarterback Skylor Fillis is a dual threat.
Unionville at Springfield >> The 11th-seeded Indians (4-6) and No. 6 Cougars (7-3) meet in a rematch of last year’s 5A final. Springfield looks to avenge the 35-25 loss. The Cougars have overcome lack of a solid running game with a strong defense and Jack Psenicska’s experience at the quarterback position. The senior has thrown for 1,571 yards and 16 touchdowns.
Interboro at Upper Merion >> The ninth-seeded Bucs (5-5) ended the regular season with three straight wins. During that span, running back Mike Moore has amassed 477 yards and nine touchdowns. The No. 8 Vikings (6-4) are led by running back Zaire Savage, who has produced 798 yards on the ground. Quarterback Dale Clayton has thrown for 1,080 yards, but with 14 interceptions.
