TIGERS ON A TEAR
Ringgold beats LFO to move to 4-0
The Ringgold Tigers played the 750th football game in their school’s history Friday night at Don Patterson Field and made the milestone game a memorable one.
Seven different players got into the end zone and the Tigers scored three defensive touchdowns in a 56-0 victory over Region 6-AAA and Catoosa County rival LFO in the 76th all-time meeting between the two programs.
Ringgold (4-0, 2-0) led 28-0 at the end of the opening quarter and took a 35-0 lead into halftime.
The Blue-and-White opened the scoring less than 90 seconds into the contest as Malachi Hill took a screen pass from Mason Parker and maneuvered his way 35 yards for a touchdown. Kori Dumas would score on a 2-yard run on the Tigers’ next possession to make it 14-0.
The defense got into the act just 10 seconds later as defensive lineman Brady Gray stripped the ball from a Warrior player, scooped it up and raced 24 yards for a touchdown, and Dumas would pick off a pass and go 46 yards for a score with 4:15 left to play in the opening stanza.
The final touchdown of the first half came with 10 seconds left on the clock. Parker lofted a pass downfield that Jacob Garnica caught inside the 10. Garnica stopped and spun away from a defender before finding the endzone for the 29-yard score to close out the half.
The final three touchdowns would come in the third quarter. Dre Morris scored on a 4-yard run up the middle and backup quarterback Garrett Edgar used a beautiful fake handoff to score from five yards out to make it 49-0 with 5:14 to play in the period.
The defense would tack on the final score just 30 seconds later as Ty Gilbert picked off a pass and went 41 yards to the house. Kicker
Landon Eaker booted the final extra point to finish 8 for 8 on the night.
Nine different players carried the ball for the Tigers. Dumas had 72 yards on 13 rushes. Elijah Bradberry had eight rushes for 60 yards and quarterback Mason Parker picked up 46 yards on six attempts.
Parker was a very efficient 12 of 14 in the air for 142 yards, while Hill had three catches for 49 yards. Eight different players caught at least one pass in the win.
Hill also had an interception on defense, while Kyle White also forced and recovered a fumble.
Blake Rizzo had 28 yards rushing for the Warriors on three carries and Will Carroll ran 17 times for 27 yards. Keenan Walker threw 19 passes and completed six for 13 yards.
Benji Valdes had an interception for the LFO defense, while Carroll and Bryson Sullivan had a solid night punting. Carroll had two punts for a 53.5-yard average and Sullivan averaged 42 yards on three punts.
Ringgold will be back at home this coming Friday night for a region game against Murray County, while LFO (0-3, 0-2) will hit the road for another 6-AAA contest, this time in Varnell against Coahulla Creek.