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BAKER COUNTY VS RIDGEVIEW
Third shutout of season for Wildcats
Third shutout of season for WildcatsBy MELISSA BURNSED Baker County continued their domination of opponents Friday night with another defensive shutout. The victory marks the third time the Wildcats have held an opponent scoreless, as the Ridgeview Panthers lost the non-district game 22 to 0. The Panthers were limited to well under one hundred yards of total offense by the Wildcats fierce smothering defenders. The Baker Boys relied on heavy backfield pressure to contain the Panthers passing offense. The blitzing Cats forced two drive killing interceptions, while sacking Ridgeview’s quarterback Derek Hatcher three times. Cody Wheeler, Hank Farmer and Trek McCullough added sacks to their resumes, while Greg Williams and Harold Moore were credited with the interceptions. Ethan Munson, BJ Rowe and Dekembey Hogan aided the Wildcats defense as they pounded the Panthers ball carries before they could cross the line of scrimmage. Despite averaging more than 300 yards of offense per game and being undefeated, at 5 and 0 midway through their regular season schedule, Head Coach Bobby Johns still had concerns about his offensive units performance in a post game interview. He stated that his team has to improve if they hope to keep winning. The Wildcats offense did struggle to move the ball early in the game. They went four and out on their first two possessions during the first quarter. Quarterback Darvin Ruise rallied his team and led the Cats option oriented offense on a drive inside the Panthers territory, as the second quarter began, only to see his teams momentum continue to be stymied. Bakers’ potent power running offense had the large contingent of their fans who had made the drive over to Orange Park on their feet as the drive moved inside the thirty yard line, before turning the ball over on downs. It didn’t take the Wildcats long to give their fans something to cheer about, as the defense quickly slammed the door on the Panthers offense forcing a punt. On the ensuing possession, Ruise led the Cats on a 71 yard scoring drive that included a Ridgeview facemask penalty. Running backs Reuben Jackson and Greg Williams smashed their way through Panthers defenders, before Ruise capped the drive. After a fake handoff, he scampered into the end zone from nine yards out. Harold Moore added two more points on the PAT conversion. Moore gave his team another shot at the end zone when he intercepted a wayward Panther pass late in the second quarter, but the Cats were unable to capitalize on the turnover and the teams went into halftime with Baker County leading 8 to 0. It look as if the Panthers might get something going, on their opening possession of the third quarter. A pass interference penalty moved the ball out to midfield before the Wildcats defense stiffened and shut down the drive. The Panthers punt buried the Cats at the five yard line, but that didn’t phase Ruise and company who put together a clock eating 95 yard scoring drive. Jackson, Farmer, Moore and Ruise all carried the ball while dragging would be Panther tacklers along for the ride. Moore scored the touchdown with a 25 yard end around, out running the pursuing defenders. Ruise added two more on the extra point conversion with a QB keeper (16-0). The Wildcats defense forced another four and out possession as the third quarter ended and their offense went back to work. Greg Williams broke a 45 yard long pounding run, to set the Cats up in the red zone, only to see the drive die a few plays later when the Panthers recovered a fumble near the goal line. Baker’s defense was looking for a safety as Ridgeview started the possession on the two yard line. But Baker County native Tyler Bass had other ideas, as he caught a pass across the middle in the flats to give the Panthers some cushion room with a big first down. With less than six minutes left on the game clock, the Wildcats weren’t about to let down defensive coordinator Jami Rodgers by giving up the shutout and they clamped down on Ridgeview’s quarterback one more time. After the Panthers went for it on fourth down and failed to convert, Ruise led the Cats to their third and final score of the evening. Behind good offensive front line blocking, it only took four plays before Hank Farmer crossed the goal line. The PAT conversion failed, but the Wildcats had locked up another convincing win 22-0. The win improves the Baker boys record to 5 and 0, setting up a huge showdown game next week at Memorial Stadium. The Wildcats will host the Jackson Tigers in a battle of the unbeatens. The two squads will clash to determine which one will be claim the top spot in the district 3-3A bracket. Baker VS RidgeviewPhotos by JUD JOHNSON
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