Panthers take big step toward 20-6A crown
MISSOURI CITY — The District 20-6A lead came down to one last defensive stand.
Bush drove within 5 yards of victory, but Ridge Point held on 21-17 in a classic battle Friday night at Hall Stadium.
Both teams entered undefeated in 20-6A play and gave each other its best challenge of the district season. The Panthers (7-1) improved to 6-0 in district with a rivalry game against Hightower remaining.
“It feels good,” Ridge Point defensive tackle Dennis Osagiede said. “We worked hard for this. We’ve been working hard since the end of our last season. It started with the loss to Lamar last year. We worked all offseason, all summer. We got better throughout the season. We’re still not where we want to be, but we’ll get there.”
Ridge Point recorded a second-half shutout while erasing a 17-14 halftime deficit. A defensive starter even accounted for the only points of the half.
Facing fourth-and-2 near midfield, the Panthers brought in a power package including senior linebacker Chad Bailey. He picked up the first down and broke free for a 51-yard touchdown with 2½ minutes left in the third quarter.
The Ridge Point defense took care of the rest. Osagiede helped end one Bush charge, as the Broncos drove inside the 30 but turned the ball over on an incomplete pass in the end zone.
Tackles by Jarrett Preston and Osagiede forced a three-and-out on Bush’s next possession. Femi Oladeinde answered with a key tackle for loss, followed by a near interception from Jason Joseph to give Bush one last shot.
The Broncos took over on their own 11 with 2:47 left and got the spark they needed on a 62-yard completion to Lawrence Scott. A fourth-down catch by Dy’Shon Hodge later kept the final drive going as Bush advanced to the Ridge Point 5.
The Broncos (6-1, 5-1) managed to run three plays in less than seven seconds, but all were incomplete.
Ridge Point shut out for two quarters an offense that entered averaging 32 points per game.
“Coach started running a lot of stunts and blitzes,” Osagiede said. “First half we played more base. Once we started putting pressure on them, that helped out.”
Ridge Point converted third down three times, including Aaron Allen’s 2-yard touchdown pass to Adam Bazan, for a 7-0 firstquarter lead.
Bush reached Ridge Point territory three consecutive drives and completed the last as Wade Freeman found James Cooley in the opposite corner of the end zone for a 14yard touchdown.
The Broncos unexpectedly scored four seconds later as Ridge Point’s kick returner backed into the end zone and kneeled, looking for a touchback. The safety gave Bush a 9-7 lead with 6:04 remaining in the half.
Ridge Point held after the free kick, then flipped the field and the momentum. Allen found Bazan deep over the middle and the senior raced 91 yards for a 14-9 lead.
Bush answered with a 77-yard march. On fourthand-16, Freeman bought time with his feet and stayed in bounds just long enough to find Scott open for a 34-yard touchdown. Shawn Thomas added the two-point catch for a 17-14 halftime lead.
Ridge Point has one regular-season test remaining Nov. 9 against rival Hightower (5-1 in district) at Hall Stadium.