Notre Dame Stops East Ridge For Return To State Semifinals

Irish Win 55-27; To Face Alcoa Friday On The Road

Saturday, November 21, 2015
B.B. Branton

Notre Dame's Akil Sledge (30) is taken out of bounds by an East Ridge defender, just shy of the goal line Friday evening at Finley Stadium. Sledge scored three touchdowns and ran for 136 yards on 30 carries as the Irish defeated the Pioneers 55-27 in a state quarterfinal game to avenge a regular season loss. Notre Dame travels to Alcoa Friday for a 3A semifinal game.
photo by Dennis Norwood

Clicking on all cylinders – the run, the pass and defense – Notre Dame defeated East Ridge, 55-27, Friday night at Finley Stadium in a 3A state high school football quarterfinal playoff game.

Irish quarterback Alex Darras threw for three touchdowns (12-20 for 267 yards) and ran for two others, while the Irish hammered the Pioneer defense with Akil Sledge as the running back rushed for three scores and 136 yards on 30 carries.

The Irish (10-3) travel to Alcoa (12-1) for a state semifinal game next Friday.

The two teams also met a year ago at Finley in the state semis with Alcoa winning, 28-19, and then losing in the state finals to Christ Presbyterian.

Tonight we had an amazing defensive plan as East Ridge hit on some big plays, but our defense held when it had to,” said Notre Dame coach Charles Fant.

“We were able to contain running back Traneil Moore for the most part and senior Robert Murphy was nearly unstoppable for us on defense.”

Fast Start: Notre Dame scored on its four possessions to lead 27-0 before the Pioneer offense got untracked and pulled within 15 at 29-14 at intermission.

Ricky Ballard and Sledge each scored on short runs for a 14-0 lead at 2:41 of the first quarter followed by a pair of Darras to Cameron Wynn scoring tosses (21 and 19 yards) for a 27-0 lead before East Ridge got untracked.

Moore, a TSSAA 3A Mr. Football finalist, finally got loose and raced down the left sideline 46 yards to paydirt followed by a Eric Bennett to Jeremiah McKibben 66 yard pass and run play to make it 27-14 with less than five minutes before halftime.

A bad snap gave Notre Dame a safety with a minute remaining for a 29-14 lead.

The two teams swapped scoring drives in the third as the Irish led 41-27 with a quarter to go.

Darras and Sledge put the game out of reach in the fourth with short TD runs to close out the scoring.

“It’s amazing to get back to the state semis after losing several coaches and 17 seniors from the 2014 team,” said coach Fant.

”It will be an awesome experience to play Alcoa again as to be the best you have to be the best.”

East Ridge Season Ends: The Pioneers end the season at 12-1, best record in school history.

The last time East Ridge allowed 50 or more points was a 51-20 loss to Notre Dame in 2007.

“We dug ourselves a hole (down 27-0) as we picked a bad night to play a bad game, but keep your heads up,” said East Ridge coach Tracy Malone to his players after the game.

“Don’t walk off this field with anything but pride in what you have accomplished this year.

“I am proud of you as you had a great season. You seniors comprise the best senior class in the school’s history.”

Notre Dame 55, East Ridge 27

ND 20 – 9 – 12– 14 - 55

ER – 0 – 14 – 13 – 0 -- 27

ND - Akil Sledge 1 run (Alex Darras kick), ND - 7-0

ND - Sledge 3 run (Darras kick), ND - 14-0

ND - Cameron Wynn 21 pass from Darra (pass failed), ND - 20-0

2nd Q

ND -Wynn 19 pass from Darras (Darras kick), ND - 27-0

ER - Traneil Moore 46 run (CJ. Bond kick), ND - 27-7

ER - Jeremiah McKibben 66 pass from Eric Bennett (Bond kick), ND - 27-14