Sports
Ridge Football Opens Season With Huge Win Over Montgomery
Senior Nick Franzese ignites Red Devils with early 76-yard touchdown run.
Story and photos by Terry Boudreau
The Ridge Red Devils opened the 2013 football season Sunday afternoon with huge win over Montgomery, 55-14. After scoring 6 points on a touchdown in the first quarter, Ridge would pound the ball on the ground for the next three quarters to scoring 7 more touchdowns during the home game at Lee Field.
Ridge got off to a quick start when on the second play from scrimmage, Devil QB Conor Hughes connected with Nick Franzese for a short pass.
76-yard TD run by Nick Franzese
Franzese turned the corner and ran up the sidelines for a 76-yard touchdown. Franzese would add another TD on a 26-yard run to start the second quarter.
Ridge would follow up with running touchdowns from Conor Hughes (2), Liam Derkasch (2), Alex Hatala and Danny Phillips. Some of the underclassmen players got on the field toward the end of the game.
"It was great," said Red Devil Liam Derkasch. "Coming back onto the field with the team, it is always great. Making plays, executing our jobs, it's always good. The offensive line played great today."
"Pumped," was all that Matt Soulas said of the team's "Last year definitely motivated us (Ridge went 7-0 but lost to Bridgewater in the first round of the playoffs) and we want 'States' this year. This is just the start."
The Red Devils had to hold onto that feeling of being pumped for three days, after Thursday's initially was called off because of weather.
On Sunday, sunny weather replaced rain, thunder and lightning last delayed Thursday's game for almost 90 minutes until it finally was rescheduled.
"This was a great way to start the season," said Ridge Head Coach Bill Tracy following Sunday's win.
"It was a tight game early, we knew it would be," Tracy said. "Montgomery has a great team and is very well coached. I thought the game turned at the end of the first half and we played off that momentum well. We need some work, but I am real proud of the guys; they played hard.
"It is good to get the first one," Tracy concluded.
On to Somerville — to face Immaculata
The Ridge Red Devils opened the 2013 football season Sunday afternoon with huge win over Montgomery, 55-14. After scoring 6 points on a touchdown in the first quarter, Ridge would pound the ball on the ground for the next three quarters to scoring 7 more touchdowns during the home game at Lee Field.
Ridge got off to a quick start when on the second play from scrimmage, Devil QB Conor Hughes connected with Nick Franzese for a short pass.
76-yard TD run by Nick Franzese
Franzese turned the corner and ran up the sidelines for a 76-yard touchdown. Franzese would add another TD on a 26-yard run to start the second quarter.
Ridge would follow up with running touchdowns from Conor Hughes (2), Liam Derkasch (2), Alex Hatala and Danny Phillips. Some of the underclassmen players got on the field toward the end of the game.
"It was great," said Red Devil Liam Derkasch. "Coming back onto the field with the team, it is always great. Making plays, executing our jobs, it's always good. The offensive line played great today."
"Pumped," was all that Matt Soulas said of the team's "Last year definitely motivated us (Ridge went 7-0 but lost to Bridgewater in the first round of the playoffs) and we want 'States' this year. This is just the start."
The Red Devils had to hold onto that feeling of being pumped for three days, after Thursday's initially was called off because of weather.
On Sunday, sunny weather replaced rain, thunder and lightning last delayed Thursday's game for almost 90 minutes until it finally was rescheduled.
"This was a great way to start the season," said Ridge Head Coach Bill Tracy following Sunday's win.
"It was a tight game early, we knew it would be," Tracy said. "Montgomery has a great team and is very well coached. I thought the game turned at the end of the first half and we played off that momentum well. We need some work, but I am real proud of the guys; they played hard.
"It is good to get the first one," Tracy concluded.
On to Somerville — to face Immaculata
The next game against rival Immaculata High School is scheduled to be played away at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 20, at Somerville High School.
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