A dramatic second-half comeback by the Cleveland Blue Raiders fell just short at West Ridge in Sullivan County on a last-second field goal on Friday night. Cleveland's season ends with the 17-14 defeat. West Ridge, a brand new school at Blountville in Upper East Tennessee, advances to play at powerful Maryville next week in second round Class 6A playoff action.
Plagued by two first half fumbles and a blocked punt, the Blue Raiders trailed 14-0 at halftime. Cleveland then rallied to score twice behind the running of senior Tetoe Boyd to tie the game.
Cleveland had a golden opportunity late in the game with Boyd helping get the ball to around the 15 yard line. However, the Wolves were able to stop him on a fourth day play in which he fell a yard short.
West Ridge, playing in their just opened stadium, marched down well within field goal range. Cleveland called timeout twice to try to ice the kicker with three seconds left. But Eli Iacino then nailed the winning kick from 35 yards out.
Cleveland was marching down the field on an opening drive of the game before West Ridge pounced on a fumble on a run play at their 30 yard line. Kale Bryant pulled in a long pass down the middle that took it to the seven yard line. Ethan Bergeron, senior West Ridge quarterback at 6'4" and 240 pounds, pounded it in to put Cleveland behind 7-0.
Another miscue gave West Ridge back the ball on the Cleveland 39, but the Red Raider defense held this time. Cleveland also could not move the ball and then had a block on a punt attempt. The kicker fumbled the ball on the snap, then could not get it off in time.
Bergeron executed a waggle pass to wide open tight end Isaac Haynie to put West Ridge ahead by two scores before the first quarter was over.
Cleveland's defense stiffened and the offense again got traction early in the second quarter as quarterback Drew Lambert found Tate O'bryan for a 16-yard play followed by a 14-year Boyd scamper. However, the drive stalled after a fourth and eight overthrown pass.
With time winding down in the first half, the Red Raiders seemingly had West Ridge ready to punt. However, there was a penalty on a Cleveland lineman that gave West Ridge new downs. That came after the Wolves shifted from punt formation to an apparent run. They ran out the clock for the remaining three minutes plus.
Destun Thomas had a long completion after a 15-yard Lambert bootleg as Cleveland drove for one score. The first Cleveland TD came on a drive that included a key reception by O'bryan.
West Ridge High School is a combination of the former Sullivan South, Sullivan Central and Sullivan North.