RAVENSWOOD - Friday night’s AA showdown at Flinn Field shapes up to be an epic AA battle of playoff contenders as #5 Ravenswood (5-1) hosts #10 Pt. Pleasant’s (5-2) three-headed rush monster.
Ravenswood defense will have their work cut out for them, particularly the run defense.
Pt. Pleasant sophomore Allan Wasonga (5-8, 185), a Nairobi, Kenya, native, who moved to Mason County as a first grader, leads the Big Black Hydra (mythical three-headed monster) with 1,312 rushing yards through seven games with 18 touchdowns. Touted as a Division I prospect, Wasonga reportedly bench presses 300 pounds and has sprinter’s speed as a member of Point’s 2007 AA state champion 4 x 100 relay team. Coach David Darst says Wasonga sees the whole field, follows his blocks and is fast and strong. Obviously, those have been lethal qualities to opposing defenses in 2008.
Yet it’s not just the Wasonga Show. In last weekend’s 41-12 win over Poca, Derek Mitchell chipped in eight carries for 78 yards and two TDs and Nathan Roberts (6-1, 210. Jr.) eight carries for 27 yards and two TDs to complement Wasonga’s 22 carries for 183 yards and a TD. Point rolled up 332 rushing yards to dash the Dots. Seven fumbles (three lost) are the only thing that slowed down the Hydra versus Poca.
Senior quarterback B.J. Lloyd (6-1, 163) runs the offense and can pass. He threw for 71 yards versus Poca, hitting two-of-three passes including a 31-yard scoring strike to senior flanker Eric Mitchell (6-2, 195).
The Big Blacks return nine starters on offense and 10 on defense from 2007’s 3-7 team, but lost team-leading senior fullback Tyler Grant (855 rushing yards, nine TDs in 2007) to a season-ending ankle injury in a preseason scrimmage.
Wasonga’s older brother Caleb (6-0, 180, Sr.) is the team’s starting split end and defensive back.
Linemen guards Matt Thompson (6-2, 215, Sr.) and Eric Veith (5-10, 175. Sr.), tackles Chase Liptrap (6-1, 235, Sr.) and Clay Krebs (6-3, 275, So.), another Division I prospect return.
Senior defensive nose guard Kenny Longwell (5-9, 180) and junior linebacker Derrick Pinson (5-9, 180) are also back with defensive backs David Wallace (5-10, 170, Jr.) and Nathan Roberts.
Veith, Allan Wasonga and Grant man linebacker posts. Caleb Wasonga, Mitchell and wrestling standout Phillip Allen form a very speedy defensive secondary.
Senior place-kicker Justin Weaver is a clutch kicker. He drilled a 32-yard field goal as time ran out to help Point knock off two-time defending AA champion Wayne on the Pioneers’ home field 22-21 Oct. 3. The Big Blacks scored 16 points in the final five minutes to upset Wayne. Three Pioneer fumbles in those final minutes of the fourth quarter aided the Big Black cause. Lloyd hooked up with Allan Wasonga on a 65-yard pass as part of the rally and scored the final two TDs prior to Weaver’s winning kick himself.
In 2008, Point Pleasant lost two of their first three games to Ohio teams, Gallia Academy (28-21) and South Point (34-26). They own wins over Sissonville (42-10), Tug Valley (41-6), Midland Trail (64-28), Wayne (22-21) and Poca (41-12)—the lone common opponent with Ravenswood. The Devils whipped Poca 35-6 in Week #2.
Ravenswood averages scoring 32 points per game and allowing just 11 points per game. Pt. Pleasant scores an average of 37 points per game while allowing 20 points.
The Devils have rushed for 1,532 yards through six games (256 ypg) while allowing just 100 rushing yards per game and another 108 average passing yards. The Devils have scored 18 rushing touchdowns and five via the pass.
Sophomore quarterback Cole Starcher leads the Ravenswood rushing game with 649 yards, while Jake Young has 435.
PRE-GAME NOTES: Pt. Pleasant has won three straight games in the series, beginning with a 7-3 defensive struggle in 2005 at Point’s historic Sanders Field when the Devils had three shots at the end zone from the Point one yard line as time ran out but could not score...In 2006, Point won a wild 37-34 shoot-out at Flinn Field which included two 80-yard-plus kickoff returns...In 2007, Point upset #10-ranked Ravenswood 21-14 at Sanders Field driving 64 yards in 12 plays for the winning TD after Ravenswood had rallied from a 14-0 deficit to tie the game with 5:52 left. The upset loss helped wreck the Devils’ playoff chances...Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. with a performance by the RvHS Alumni Band as part of the festivities.
