Unbeaten Ridge Reaches State Football Championship

Information from Terry Boudreau. Photos by Terry Boudreau and Linda Sadlouskos

The Ridge Red Devils took another step into the history books Friday night with a 28-14 victory over Linden Friday night that will advance this year's team to the state championship game.

Ridge remains undefeated (11-0)  for the season, and will play in two weeks for the Group 5, North 2 State Championship, and to potentially become the first undefeated season in Ridge history.

Coming into Friday's game, the second round of the state season, Ridge knew what they were up against: their toughest opponent of the season.

In week three of the season, Ridge came away with a hard fought 20-14 overtime win over Linden, one of the closest games this fall. "Coach Tracy told us he started planning for this game the day after we played them (Linden) in September," said Ridge quarterback Conor Hughes. "He was so prepared for this game, he knew every play call to call. It was an amazing job."

Ridge Head Coach Bill Tracy, on the field after the team had headed to the locker room, said after the win. "I'm just happy for the kids." He later added, "The kids really played great and I am really proud of them."

"Two years ago, we were down and out," Tracy said, recalling a season when many of this year's senior starters had just reached the varsity team as sophomores, and a year with a number of injuries.

"Everyone stuck together, and no one left the team," Tracy said. "It shows you the power of loyalty." 

This Friday, with the stands overflowing at home at Lee Field, and fans roaring, Ridge took command decisively.

Ridge struck first with a nifty pass from Hughes to Ryan Bell that took the ball to the 4 yard line. Liam Derkasch would take the ball "to the house" on the next play giving Ridge a 7-0 lead.
 
On the next series, Linden would score on a pass to tie the score at 7-7.
  
On the ensuing kickoff, Ridge marched down the field to the 11-yard line. Hughes would hand off to the hard running Nick Franzese who would battle his way into the endzone to give Ridge the 14-7 advantage.
  
In the second quarter, Linden would tie it up again with a 44-yard touchdown run that knotted the score at 14-14. Ridge would be stopped on their next possession, but a fine play by the special teams downed the Jack Becker punt on the 1-foot line.  The defense would hold the Tigers inside the 20-yard line and force a punt. 

As the clock ticked away in the half, Hughes would find Franzese for a 25 yard touchdown pass that put Ridge up 21-14 with only 12 seconds left.

Ridge takes possession in second half

Ridge would kick a short kick to start the second half and take away possession from Linden. "That was John's call and I trust him," Tracy said of special teams coach John DeBisco's decision.

That decision would pay off as Ridge, although stumbling through a string of motion penalties in the series, would score when Hughes called his own number and would amble into the endzone from 7 yards out to put Ridge up 28-14.

Ridge held onto the score through the final seconds of the game, when the fans in the stand and everyone else knew the game was over. After a few minutes delay, as the two teams shook hands, fans made it onto their home field to mob the Ridge players who had brought them to this point. 
 
"They are a really good program: amazing backs, their line is giant, a really physical team," said Will Vogt. "We played our hearts out. We practiced maybe our bet week this week. This is going really good right now, we get to move on."

"It is exciting, so exciting," said Liam Derkasch after the win. "It is surreal:  going through the entire season undefeated, the playoffs, 11-0. It is amazing. This group of guys, it is family. We have been playing together since 5th grade beginning with Ridge Youth Sports and the Bulldogs. Finishing here as seniors, it's great. Now we have to go for one more."

"All the players played very well," said Conor Hughes. "We knew their line was going to be big, but our line fought. Both teams had some big plays but we just came out victorious.
  
In his comments after the game, Coach Tracy also credited Linden's abilities. "There  were a lot of chances in the game to lose focus. Linden made a lot of plays. But our kids stayed tough mentally and that was big."

Ridge will face No. 2 seed Union for the Group 2, North 5, championship on Dec. 8 at Rutgers Stadium in Piscataway.

Last Friday, Ridge football had snagged  a 35-28 victory over Westfield at Lee Field for the first round of the playoffs.

Linda Sadlouskos added to this story