WOW! Every week I come into the game a bit nervous, by the mid point of the 1st quarter I have felt confident the boys were going to take care of business. Coach Norwood told the team after the game to not be satisfied and to be ready to have a great week of practice. I am confident they will not be satisfied and that they will have a great week of practice.
Below is the article from the Winston-Salem Journal and above is a photo from the News and Record.
By Michael Graff
SPECIAL TO THE JOURNAL
Published: October 3, 2009
JAMESTOWN
East Forsyth's Eagles didn't have to suffer through heartache this time, didn't have to swallow another last-second loss and ponder their status as a team that could have, or would have, or should have. This was more a moment of recognition: A year after their championship run, they are no longer the best team in their league.
That honor may belong to Ragsdale, the fourth-ranked team in the Associated Press' latest 4-A poll and the undefeated machine that drilled East Forsyth 31-0 last night.
And if it's not Ragsdale, it's somebody better, and that's a scary notion if you're the Eagles, who won the Metro 4-A Conference last season.
After the four previous games, it was hard to figure out the Eagles' position in the pecking order.
They lost four straight games by seven points or fewer, including one on a goal-line stand in the last minute against Reynolds two weeks ago.
But after being outgained in total yardage 314 to 89, and outnumbered in first downs 19 to 4, the Eagles (2-5, 0-2 Piedmont Triad 4-A) clearly were outmatched by Ragsdale (7-0, 2-0).
"That's by far the best team we've played all year," East coach Todd Willert said. "It's the same philosophy every time. (Ragsdale coach Tommy Norwood) is old school. He runs four run plays and four pass plays and they come get it on defense. And they do it all well."
Ragsdale quarterback Luke Heavner is a big reason for that. He continued his solid junior season, passing for two touchdowns and running for another.
He finished with 119 yards on 11-of-17 passing. Tailback D'Onovan Smith ran for 105 yards on 21 carries before being pulled in the fourth quarter in the blowout.
Luke Sonricker and Desean Anderson had 10 catches between them (Sonricker four and Anderson six).
But it was another wideout, Tyquan Roberts, who put his stamp to the game, racing down the sideline and catching a bomb over an East defender's head for a 41-yard touchdown, the last score of the game.
East was unable to sustain anything.
Quarterback Erick Smith did complete passes to five different receivers, but they amounted to only 15 yards. Travis Cuthberson led East with 45 yards -- most of which came in a 36-yarder in the fourth quarter.
"We are very good on defense. We're returning six kids that are three-year starters for us," Norwood said. "And we've got some playmakers on offense, too."
Ragsdale's only miscue, was a fumbled punt. Otherwise, the Tigers scored on their first three possessions, ran 23 efficient offensive plays for 170 yards in the first half, and left East backpedaling right into the locker room at halftime.
After a 28-yard field goal from Kasey Redfern in the first quarter, Ragsdale got its first touchdown early in the second quarter when Sonricker ran a sharp out pattern, creating enough separation for quarterback Heavner to zip a pass to him for an 11-yard score. Minutes later, Heavner found Sonricker again for 32 yards on a third-and-8, keeping alive a drive that ended with Anderson's 10-yard sweep touchdown. That made it 17-0 at halftime.
East did manage to force Ragsdale into three second-half punts, but it was evident from the start that this wouldn't be another close finish.
"I think we came in a little intimidated," Willert said. "After losing four close ones, I don't care who you are, a high school team, college team, pro team, it takes a lot out of you."
East Forsyth 0 0 0 0 -- 0
Ragsdale 3 14 7 7 -- 31
R – FG 28 Redfern
R – Sonricker 11 pass from Heavner (Redfern kick)
R – Anderson 10 run (Redfern kick)
R – Heavner 1 run (Redfern kick)
R – Roberts 41 pass from Heavner (Redfern kick)
Records – East Forsyth 2-5, 0-2 Piedmont Triad 4-A; Ragsdale 7-0, 2-0 Piedmont Triad 4-A
Ragsdale Satistics
First downs 15
Rushes-yards 37-194
Passing yards 170
Comp-Att-Int 12-18-0
Punts-average 4-21
Fumbles-lost 0-0
Penalties-yards 9-40
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