Sun Valley at Ragsdale

Photo by www.Lpphotos.com

This game was a lot more exciting than I wanted. Once again the offense got off the a slow start. Our defense which typically bails us out until we get the O running also sputtered - allowing 17 points in the first half. Our kids played with heart and desire. The boys came out in the 2nd half and started playing the type of football we were accustomed to seeing from them. Below is the article from the High Point Enterprise.

Ragsdale rallies past Sun Valley

by Jason Queen, Special to the Enterprise

JAMESTOWN – Tyquan Roberts usually helps Ragsdale’s passing game with his size, hands and feet.

Friday night, it was his arm that made the difference.

Roberts completed a 19-yard pass to JV call-up Justin Briley on third-and-8 to set up a go-ahead touchdown midway through the third quarter, and D-onovan Smith tacked on two touchdown runs to help the Tigers rally past a game Sun Valley squad 33-24 in the second round of the 4A West playoffs.

The 13-0 Tigers, the No. 3 seed in the West, will travel to No. 2 Dudley (12-1) next week.

With Ragsdale trailing 17-14 midway through the third, the Tigers faced third-and-long from the Spartans’ 20. Roberts took a lateral from quarterback Luke Heavner, then threw a strike to Briley for a huge first down. Smith scored on the next play, and Sun Valley never recovered.

When coach Tommy Norwood called the play during the timeout, Roberts had no question about his ability. “In practice I try to show off how far I can throw and my accuracy,” Roberts beamed. “It was good to help the team out, and I’m just overwhelmed right now.”

Smith capped a two-play, 54-yard scoring drive on the Tigers’ next possession with a 25-yard run, and Heavner hooked up with DeSean Anderson for a 5-yard touchdown pass with two minutes left for the final margin.

Smith finished with 107 yards on 22 carries, while Heavner threw for 157 yards and three touchdowns. Roberts had three catches for 100 yards and a touchdown.

Sun Valley (9-4) countered with a potent passing attack, as sophomore Ryan Smith was 20-of-29 through the air for 214 yards and three scores.

Heavner’s 48-yard touchdown pass to Roberts was the only score of the first quarter. Avery Washington returned an interception of a tipped pass down to the Spartans’ 10, setting up Heavner’s 10-yard strike to Anderson two plays later to make it 13-0 midway through the second.

Sun Valley finally got its offense going on the ensuing drive. Jadarrius Williams ripped off two nice runs, then Ryan Smith hooked up with Andre McManus for a 32-yard score to cut the Tigers’ lead to 13-7.

After stuffing Ragsdale on its next drive, the Spartans went to work again. The Tigers’ second unsportsmanlike conduct penalty of the half gave Sun Valley a first down in Ragsdale territory, then Smith hit Dustin Cook in the corner of the end zone with a perfect 27-yard pass, and Cameron Havey’s PAT gave the visitors a 14-13 lead with 4:32 left in the second quarter.

Ragsdale tried to get something going late in the half, but a fumble gave the Spartans the ball back deep in Tiger territory. Moments later, Havey boomed a 38-yard field goal to send the Spartans into the locker room with a 17-13 lead.

Scoring summary

Sun Valley 0 17 0 7 — 24

Ragsdale 6 7 14 6 — 33

R – Roberts 48 pass from Heavner (pass failed) 6:23, 1st

R – Anderson 10 pass from Heavner (Redfern kick) 8:19, 2nd

SV – McManus 32 pass from Smith (Havey kick) 6:31, 2nd

SV – Cook 27 pass from Smith (Havey kick) 4:32, 2nd

SV – Havey 38 FG 0:00, 2nd

R – Smith 1 run (Redfern kick) 3:40, 3rd

R – Smith 25 run (Redfern kick) 1:59, 3rd

SV – Cook 17 pass from Smith (Havey kick) 11:17, 4th

R – Anderson 5 pass from Heavner (conversion failed) 1:55, 4th.