Panthers pitch a shutout against Wildcats
MISSOURI CITY — Ridge Point still doesn’t look like the powerhouse that posted double-digit wins in three straight seasons and played in the state semis three years ago, but Saturday night’s game was a step in the right direction.
With district starting next week, the Panthers couldn’t afford to turn south.
Coming off a shutout loss to the area’s top-ranked Class 6A team in North Shore, Ridge Point blanked Dekaney 20-0 at Hall Stadium, with Ridge Point quarterback Will Pendergrass throwing for 157 yards and two touchdowns.
“Defense played lights out,” Ridge Point coach Brett Sniffin said. “We knew we had to stop their quarterback (Joshua Cephus). He’s a dynamic player. They did a good job taking away the deep threat and pretty much keeping him in check in the pocket.
“Offensively, we are very young, and we’re still struggling a little bit with that, but we came through when we needed to.”
The Panthers (2-1) held off Kingwood 21-14 in their opener, when 16 of 18 players in their offensive rotation saw the varsity field for the first time, before a 44-0 loss to North Shore last week.
“We’re going to get there,” Sniffin said. “We played a very tough non-district schedule. Dekaney and North Shore have been state champions in the last (seven) years, and then you’ve got Kingwood, which went three rounds deep (last year).
“Those are good football teams.”
Ridge Point all but sealed the win on a trick play early in the third quarter. Pendergrass took the snap, handed off and Devin Gunter took a reverse handoff and pitched back to Pendergrass, who found Adonai Mitchell all alone downfield for a 33-yard touchdown and 17-0 advantage.
That was the only noteworthy play in a third quarter that featured eight combined punts.
Kyle Ramsey’s second field goal from 31 yards out early in the fourth quarter provided the final score.
Ridge Point produced 225 yards and 14 first downs in a choppy offensive outing that included three first-half turnovers. Pendergrass completed 13 of 25 passes, two going for scores and two for interceptions.
“He did a little guessing (Saturday) instead of reading, but at the same time he’s got a rifle and he can hum it in there when he needs to,” Sniffin said. “It’s just going to take more time.”
Dekaney managed just 85 yards — only 14 in the second half — and six first downs, with three turnovers. The Wildcats punted 10 times. “The front seven did great, and the secondary stepped up as well,” Sniffin said. “We’re going to have to hang our hat on those boys, and we will until we get everything clicking.”
The Panthers didn’t punt or commit a penalty in the first half, but they weren’t flawless, committing three turnovers.
Pendergrass threw two interceptions in the second quarter — to Dekaney’s Jamond Salters and Demetrius Brooks — including a costly one at the goal line with 2.5 seconds remaining in the first half.
The Panthers also left a 39-yard field goal attempt well short in the first quarter.
Still, they took a 10-0 lead into the break.
Dekaney went three-and-out three times in the first half, and Cephus (10-of-20, 54 yards passing) had two snaps sail over his head for losses and two costly turnovers, including a third-and-1 fumble.
The Wildcats had 71 total yards and four first downs in the first 24 minutes.
John Paul Richardson put Ridge Point on the board with a 14-yard reception late in the first quarter.
Ramsey’s 28-yard field goal made it 10-0 early in the second quarter.