Thanks to Delcofootball.com contributor Matt Chandik for punching up some post-game analysis of the highly anticipated Ridley-Strath Haven game, one in which the Green Raiders dominated, 32-14.
When Strath Haven had the ball…
The Panthers couldn’t do much except throw the ball short. Kevin Mohollen was 5-for-7 for 45 yards and a late touchdown to Kevin Sherry. Besides that, though, Ridley’s defense dominated. That was especially true on runs to the Green Raiders’ D’s left side, where the Panthers averaged 2.63 yards per carry on eight carries.
Haven throwing deep didn’t work well, either, because Mohollen overthrew receivers on both of his interceptions. Nick Eufrasio‘s INT came on what looked like Cover 2 Man where Eufrasio drove hard on the ball from his safety spot. Mike Crowley‘s pick looked more like Cover 3 or Cover 4 as Crowley and a couple teammates almost had to fight over who called who off for the interception. Strath Haven fullback Tevon Howie credited Ridley’s linebackers’ speed and quickness for shutting down the Panthers’ running game, and he had a good point, as outside runs to the left only averaged 3.0 yards per carry. Haveb had a little more luck up the middle, but 3.46 yards per carry isn’t exactly what Kevin Clancy had in mind. Strath Haven needed, on average, eight yards to go on 11 third downs, but that didn’t alter the playcalling philosophy as only there were only three third-down passes.
When Ridley had the ball…
The Green Raiders ran well outside and took advantage of their deep opportunities.
On runs to the left, Ridley averaged 4.8 yards per carry. To the right, it was 4.72. Up the middle? 3.47. But Darren Washington’s performance running the ball helped open the passing game, where Mike Crowley was unstoppable. The Green Raiders set up the Haven defense with back-to-back hitches before dialing up a
Ridley’s Mike Smoluk, left, was a big factor both in the secondary and passing game Friday night.
deep post off of playaction. Ed Hild found Crowley in stride, and he also found Mike Smoluk in the end zone from 41 yards out. Smoluk ripped the ball away from safety Mike Moschella for the touchdown. Hild finished 2-for-5 for 91 yards and two touchdowns on deep throws, and one of those incompletions was a drop. He also had another touchdown throw dropped that led to a Kelton Heverly 35-yard field goal. Hild doesn’t have a laser arm, but he’s accurate and does a good job of mostly avoiding interceptions. It looked like his lone pick was an overthrown deep hitch that Moschella grabbed.
“We ran the crap out of the ball last week, and we started off running the ball well (Friday), so I just figured, watching their safeties come up, I thought we had an opportunity with the playaction pass. We we were able to get over the top and execute,” Ridley head coach Dennis Decker said.
—MATT CHANDIK
