PROSPECT PARK — Many high school football kickers consider themselves soccer players in a weird getup when they step onto the gridiron. Ridley’s Jamie Fisher isn’t any different.
The lanky junior still strikes an awkward stance in a helmet and shoulder pads. However, for the three seconds it takes between the football being snapped and Fisher swinging his leg through on a field goal, he appears as comfortable as any Ridley kicker has ever seemed.
On a Thanksgiving Day that had the Green Raiders struggling to make gains on the offensive side, it was Fisher’s leg that allowed Ridley’s seniors to walk off the football field for the final time with a win over rival Interboro.
Fisher’s 33-yard field goal sailed high and strong between the uprights with less than three minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, giving the Raiders a 9-8 win over the host Bucs at the South Avenue Athletic Complex.
“I knew I had the leg for it,’ said Fisher, who hits field goals from 50 yards in practice and who might have had that distance on this attempt. “I was really nervous. My heart was running really fast.’
Ridley senior linebacker Ryan Dougherty had been pressed back into kick-holder’s duty by injury for the final game, and the Green Raiders’ captain made sure that a snap that was a little high wouldn’t interfere with Fisher’s big leg delivering the deciding points. Otherwise, the conditions couldn’t have been better. Just before the snap, the sun appeared from behind the low clouds and a gentle breeze began to blow from behind.
“Maybe that was Coach (Phil) Marion bringing us some extra distance from upstairs in case we needed it,’ coach Dennis Decker said, referring to Ridley football’s patriarch.
The kick was set up by a huge interception by junior cornerback Chris Dunn, his second of the day. With Interboro clinging to an 8-6 lead and faced with a third-and-4 at its 15 and less than five minutes remaining in the game, Bucs coach Steve Lennox decided to go with an out pass toward the Ridley sideline. As Interboro came to the line, defensive coordinator Jeff Hamson instructed Dunn to press his coverage and keep his eyes peeled.
“I have to give Coach the credit, he told me the exact spot where I should be,’ Dunn said. “He knew what was coming.
“As soon as I caught it, I stepped right out of bounds … this is probably No. 1 (on his list of top football moments). I knew we had to do something on defense to win.’
The offenses for both teams struggled, particularly in the first half, as the long layoff since their last games showed in the form of rust in the opening 24 minutes. The only points on the board came when Ridley’s three-and-out on the first possession
was further sullied when a high snap on the punt sailed through the back of the end zone for a safety.
The game went to halftime with Interboro up, 2-0, and it seemed this decades-long rivalry might have its first finish in which neither team scores a touchdown. Between a 31-yard reception by Interboro’s Mark Everton with 10 minutes remaining in the second quarter and an 11-yard pass from Ridley quarterback Jake Hoffman to Ameer Staggs with six minutes remaining in the third quarter, there were no first downs.
However, that Staggs grab seemed to give Hoffman and the offense a boost after a rough start. A Malik Young 12-yard run on fourth-and-2 helped the Raiders get the first red-zone possession by either team, and four plays later Hoffman found Jaasir Minor across the middle for a 15-yard touchdown grab to put Ridley up, 6-2.
“I thought the offensive line had trouble getting a push in the first half,’ Decker said. “I thought they were much better after halftime. When Jake got a couple of completions, it got his confidence going.’
Interboro answered by using field position as a weapon. Although the Bucs’ ensuing drive stalled, a terrific punt was downed at the 6-inch line, and after Ridley nearly suffered its second safety of the game, the Bucs forced a punt and took over at the Raiders’ 31. Six of the next eight plays had running back Chris Hummel’s number called, including a two-yard touchdown plunge that put the Bucs up, 8-6, with 7:27 left.
The extra point they missed would be costly, because Fisher didn’t miss when given the chance to give Ridley a rare kicking hero.
“Jamie got in there his first game against Glen Mills (to open the season) and hit two big field goals to get us a win,’ Decker said. “I had confidence he could get it through, and it worked out.’
Fisher said it was a challenge to both play soccer and serve as Ridley’s kicker. His schedule the last few months has been hectic, and there are times he seems out of place wearing that No. 99 football uniform.
Being the Turkey Day hero could help with that. On Twitter he was flooded with congratulatory messages. His first tweet after the game read simply, “lol I play football.’
For that, the outgoing seniors are seriously thankful.
