North Ridgeville football earns ‘sweet’ victory

After some heart-breaking losses this season, the Rangers got in the win column with an overtime triumph over Berea-Midpark. They’ll go for another win when they face Westlake this week.

Coaches are always telling their players to forget about the past and look only forward. It’s a mantra that is accepted on all levels of sports.

But never has it rung so true as it has for the 1-5 North Ridgeville Rangers.

After all, this is a team that has allowed two Hail Mary passes for touchdowns and also blew a 21-6 lead in the final 2 minutes of a game — and that one didn’t involve a Hail Mary.

“The whole season has been all about putting what happened yesterday behind us and how can we get better today,” coach Luke Durbin said. “That’s the approach we need to take. We just take it a day at a time and try to get better. We need to focus on getting better and who we’re playing that Friday.”

The Hail Mary passes came against Midview and Berea-Midpark (more on that later). But while those were upsetting and frustrating, it’s nothing compared to what happened in a 24-21 loss to North Olmsted.

“We were up, 21-6, with 2 minutes left, and lost,” Durbin said. “We gave up about a 40-yard pass, a touchdown, a two-point conversion, an onside kick, a touchdown and a twopoint conversion. That was pretty rough.

“It was hard on everybody. That was a game where we felt like we handled them the whole game. We handled them for 46 minutes. We pretty much could do what we wanted offensively, and we really shut them down on defense. Their only touchdown drive up to that point was aided by three penalties. And then it all fell apart in the end.”

While those moments can’t be replayed — as much as Durbin and his crew might wish it — the team did get a measure of revenge this past week when it defeated Berea-Midpark, 41-40, in overtime.

“It was definitely sweet,” Durbin said. “A little frustrating, too. We gave up another Hail Mary as time expired that allowed them to tie it. That’s what forced overtime. I don’t know how many times in one single season a team has given up multiple Hail Marys. But that’s a little bad luck. It’s something we’re going to have to address.”

The Titans had the ball first in the overtime and needed just four plays to score. North Ridgeville responded immediately, as quarterback Tyler Richmond ran the ball to the 6-yard line on first down. After a short gain, there was a timeout for an injury, which allowed Durbin to reveal his plan.

“The kids all came over,” Durbin said, “and I told them right then, ‘Hey, when we score, I’m thinking about going for two.’ The linemen are always for going for two. They were all fired up. So, the decision was made early. We scored that very next play. Then it was just about making sure we got the play that we wanted and knowing how to execute it.”

The play called for wide receiver Mason Grow to go in motion and appear to be a lead blocker for a run, but after a play-action fake he made his way to the right flat. Richmond hit him in the front corner of the end zone, and the Rangers had their first victory of the season.

“They got pressure on Tyler,” Durbin said. “He made a great throw, and Mason Grow stepped up and made a great catch right in the front corner of the end zone. In fact, it almost looked like he caught it short of the end zone, but he caught it in the end zone. Then we all celebrated, and it was a lot of fun.”

North Ridgeville’s 0-5 start was partly because the schedule opened with five teams that now have a combined record of 22-8. But some winnable games remain on the schedule, starting with 0-6 Westlake on Oct. 11.

“It’s a game that I think for once we’ll be favored, and those make me more nervous than any other games,” Durbin said. “It’s a game where you really have to make sure that the kids execute. We play Avon the following week and we do not want to look ahead and think that we have an easy game Friday. The kids have done a good job of that all year and I don’t expect that to change this week.