East Ridge Stops Smith Co. 35-28 in OT

The 11 East Ridge teenagers on defense will remember the overtime stop for years to come.

Facing a Smith County team which had scored more points on them than any of the previous 10 opponents, the “Defend the Ridgers” turned back the Owl offense on eight success plays in the first extra period to preserve a 35-28 overtime win at Raymond James Stadium Friday night in a first round playoff game in 3A.

“Smith County moved the ball on us like no one else had, we lost some of our swagger in the third quarter but got it back late in the game and then played great in overtime,” said a happy, but relieved East Ridge head coach Tracy Malone.

Tied at 28-28 at the end of regulation, East Ridge had the ball first in overtime and Mr. Football semifinalist Traneil Moore quickly put the Pioneers ahead 35-28 on a 10-yard run around left end on the first play from scrimmage.

East Ridge had apparently stopped the Owls on four downs to secure the win, including an incomplete fourth down pass to the delight of their rain-soaked but happy fans, but a roughing the passer call gave the Smith County offense new life at the Pioneer 3-yard-line.

Unfazed by the penalty, the Pioneer defense went back to work and senior Quasey Vinson intercepted a fourth down pass by Carson Hackett to secure the victory with no flags on the wet turf to extend the game another four plays. And the celebration began as many students and other fans ran on to the field to celebrate with their gridiron heroes.

“Survive and advance is what it is all about,” said Malone.

Rally Caps: East Ridge had to come from behind twice to win its first playoff game since 2001.

Smith Co. scored first and went for two for an 8-0 lead, followed by two Moore TD runs and a 14-8 East Ridge lead at the end of one quarter. The Owls took their second lead at 15-14 on a perfectly thrown pass-and-catch from Carson Hackett to Wesley Kemp in the right corner of the Pioneer end zone with 7:22 before halftime.

Smith Co. extended the lead to seven in the third quarter on a Bryant Goolsby 3-yard-run four minutes into the second half set up by a 70-yard Dustin Holder run. But East Ridge senior Jesse Jones blocked  the ensuing point after to keep it a seven point game.

But before the Smith County faithful could enjoy the lead, Moore sprinted 79 yards and the game was tied at 21-21 after a C.J. Bond extra point split the uprights.

Not shacken, the visitors marched 75 yards in eight plays capped by a 4-yard Hackett to Matthew Rutherford scoring pass play for a 28-21 lead with just under seven minutes remaining in regulation.

Sophomore Eric Bennett then marched the Pioneers to a tying score, the last 45 yards on a swing pass to Moore who cut and slashed his way through the Owl defense to paydirt.

 Next Game: The Pioneers improve to 11-0 and host Chattanooga Christian next Friday. CCS defeated DeKalb Co, 23-22 on the road.

“Give credit to East Ridge who has a fine team and we knew that the Mr. Football candidate would be tough to stop and he put the team on his back for the win,” said Smith County coach Mike Dickerson.

Moore did exactly that as he rushed for 227 yards and four touchdowns plus a receiving score to tie the game at 28-28 with 6:03 remaining in the game.

Moore’s counterpart was Dustin Holder who rushed for 221 yards behind a big offensive line.

Key Pioneer Block: Besides Vinson’s interception to end the game, East Ridge Senior Jesse Jones might have made the most important defensive play on a Rainy Night in Southeast Tennessee as he blocked an Owl extra point attempt at 7:49 of the third quarter with Smith Co. leading 21-14 … a good PAT would have forced ER to go for two on one of its last two scores just to tie the game.

Smith Co.  8 – 7 – 6 – 7 – 0 -- 28

East Ridge 14 – 0 – 7 – 7 – 7 – 35

 

East Ridge (11-0), Smith County (6-5)

contact B.B. Branton at william.branton@comcast.net