There is basically nine ways to score points in the game of football. The AAA No. 11 Ripley Vikings used five to level the winless Highlanders of Huntington, 46-21, and tack on their seventh win to the season at Viking Memorial Stadium this past Friday (10/23).
RUSHING TOUCHDOWN- Huntington’s lack of ability to hold on to the football was costly in their efforts, coughing up the pigskin on the opening drive of the game was only the beginning.
Just forty seconds into the game the Highlanders turned the ball over to Ripley on their own six-yard line. One play later, Adam Rutter did what he usually does, scores a touchdown. From six yards out, Rutter added number nine to his season team-high TD total. He went on to carry just eleven yards on six attempts, but was not done finding his way to the end zone…
PASSING TOUCHDOWN- On their ensuing offensive possession, Huntington used only two plays to even the score with a 63-yard strike from QB Davonte Marable to receiver Rashaun Page to tie, 7-7, at the 10:15 mark of the first quarter.
The MSAC battle continued as Ripley used two minutes on the next offensive possession to retake an early lead, 14-7, following a Scotty Ullom one-yard cut to the endzone capping off a six-play, 73-yard drive. Ullom, finding his legs again, completed six-of-eight passes for 88 yards and dashed for 35 yards on five carries along with three rushing scores on the night.
Huntington would once again tie the game (14-14) before Ullom would see pay dirt again, as Page found another six-points, this time on the ground from 10 yards out. The score finished off an eight-play 53-yard effort that began on their own 47-yard line.
Following a Ripley punt on their next drive, Huntington would turn the ball over twice more with back-to back INT’s. The first of which set Ripley up nicely on the Highlander 12-yard line that led to another Ullom scamper from 10 yards to break the tie and put Ripley up for good 21-14 with 26 seconds left in the first quarter. Ullom found the endzone a third time halfway through the second quarter from three yards to push the Ripley lead 28-14 as part of a seven-play, 48-yard drive.
INTERCEPTION RETURN- …From there the game began to get out of hand as the Vikes used an inspired defense to score their next 15 points. Rutter, who seems to never tire of the endzone picked off the second of four Ripley INT’s on the night returning eight yards for yet another Ripley score. The lead would settle at 35-14 for a mere 16 seconds. David Hicks, Ullom, Rutter, and Tyler Thomas all had their hands in on the four INT’s.
FUMBLE RETURN- On the next drive, Huntington repeatedly shooting themselves in the foot fell victim once again at the 3:38 mark of the third as linebacker Hicks made quick work on one of his two fumble recoveries by dashing 26 yards for the Ripley touchdown, all but putting the game in the bag with a 41-14 score.
SAFETY- As if there was no other way Ripely could score another unconventional point, David Heis found his way to the quarterback for a two-point safety with 3:45 left in the third quarter while the Vikings continued to roll 43-14.
FIELD GOAL/POINT AFTER TRY- The scoring onslaught finally came to a cease following a 23-yard field goal by Justin Sorrell early in the fourth, nearly finalizing the score 46-14. Sorrell also was a perfect five-for-five for PAT’s.
Huntington would get on the board one last time for good measure with two minutes left in the game as backup QB Hunter Smith connected to Christian Eschleman for a 15-yard TD pass.
A game that saw just about ever possible scenario for scoring except a blocked or returned kick or punt, or a two-point conversion, Ripley fought through a rough first quarter and came out guns blazing in all three phases of the game for their seventh win.
Seth Hamrick had a bulk of the rush load with 50 yards on 15 carries. Ronnie Mullins rushed seven times for 15 yards, Zach Milhoan four times for nine yards, Anthony Michael twice for 18 yards and also was one-for-one passing for 13 yards in back up duty. Brandon Hinzman carried three times for four yards, Isaac Freshour once for two yards, and David Rhodes had negative six yards on one carry.
Josh Donohew was the leading receiver with two catches for 56 yards. Hicks (25 yards), Ritchie Gobble (11 yards), Storm Matheny (six yards), Jared Talyor (three yards), and Rutter each had one reception.
Defensively Kyle Harpold led with eleven stops complete with two for a loss and a sack. Mullins and Heis had seven, Hicks ended with 6.5, and Gobble with 4.5. Other stops were made by Kyle Hatcher (3), Milhoan (2), Chris Casto (2), Nick Barnette (2), Caleb Derenberger (3), Zac Hartley (1), Vince Toler (3), Brandon Foresha (1), Noah Cummings (1), David Rhodes (1), Zach Slaven (1), Brandon Hinzman (1), William Casto (1), and Rutter (1).
Hamrick punted four times for 154 yards with a long of 47. Michael had two punts for 46 yards with a long of 28. Foresha kicked off eight times for 375 yards with a long of 52. Milhoan and Rutter both returned two kick offs for a total of 58 yards. Milhoan had a long of 25, Rutter a long of 20 yards. Gobble returned one punt for 11 yards.
BOX SCORE
Huntington- 14-00-00-07—21
Ripley- 21-20-02-03—46
Scoring Summary…
(R) 11:11 1st qtr- Adam Rutter 6 yard run (Justin Sorrell PAT) 0-7
(H) 10:15 1st qtr- Davonte Marable 63 yard pass to Rashaun Page (Joe St. Clair PAT) 7-7
(R) 8:08 1st qtr- Scotty Ullom 1 yard run (Sorrell PAT) 7-14
(H) 4:42 1st qtr- Page 10 yard run (St. Clair PAT) 14-14
(R) :26 1st qtr- Ullom 10 yard run (Sorrell PAT) 14-21
(R) 4:12 2nd qtr- Ullom 3 yard run (Sorrell PAT) 14-28
(R) 3:54 2nd qtr- Rutter 8 yard INT return (Sorrell PAT) 14-35
(R) 3:38 2nd qtr- David Hicks 26 yard fumble return (Failed 2-pt. conversion) 14-41
(R) 3:45 3rd qtr- David Heis safety- 14-43
(R) 8:51 4th qtr- Sorrell 23 yard FG- 14-46
(H) 2:08 4th qtr- Hunter Smith 15 yard pass to Christian Eschleman (St. Clair PAT) 21-46
STATS AT A GLANCE…
FIRST DOWNS- Ripley 14, Huntington 15; TOTAL YARDS- Ripley 239 (138 rushing, 101 passing), Huntington 281 (-16 rushing, 297 passing); TOTAL PLAYS- Ripley 53, Huntington 53; PENALTIES/YARDS- Ripley 7/52, Huntington 3/23; TOP- Ripley 27:40, Huntington 20:20. 3rd/4th DOWN EFFIENCY.- Ripley 4-for-12, Huntington 6-for-11.
