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Redbank Valley Routs Ridgway

Tagged under: District 9, Gameday Hub, News, pfn

| September 17, 2024

New Bethlehem – On a Monday night, Redbank Valley took care of business against Ridgway 52-16 in District 9 Region 2 action.

Due to security reasons at Ridgway High School late last week, the Bulldogs and Elkers agreed to play on  Monday.

“It was a good win,” said Redbank Valley head coach Blane Gold. “We wanted to play Saturday, but they weren’t available. Ideally, I don’t like playing two games in five days, but they accomplished the first one and battled the adversity. They got some rest this weekend and practiced last night. The hardest thing to do as a high school football coach when you’re not playing Friday night is to try and replicate that energy. So I was proud of how they came out and started fast.”

Following a 66-38 setback at Port Allegany last Saturday, the Bulldogs scored 38 first-half points and put up 455 yards of total offense to return to their winning ways.

“When you have 472 rushing yards against you, this is probably the worst opponent to prep for,” Gold said. “You can’t prep for the single wing in a week. Basically, we said that we have to win our 1-on-1 matchups. We wanted to prevent them from getting into the end zone, get a two-score lead, and take them out of what they do well.”

Redbank Valley scored on their first six possessions and was led offensively by quarterback Braylon Wagner, who completed 15-or-25 passes for 249 yards and four touchdowns.

“This feels really good, especially coming from last week,” Wagner said. “This win gives us a lot of momentum moving forward, and we need it. We took this game as if it was a Friday night. It felt the same being at home with our fans watching us.”

The Bulldogs opened up the scoring after taking the football when Wagner capped a 9-play 67-yard drive with a 30-yard touchdown pass to Jaxon Huffman.

Late in the opening stanza, Rylan Rupp caught a 15-yard touchdown from Wagner following a 50-yard drive.

Ridgway put together their first touchdown drive of the night when they marched 64 yards in ten plays, scoring on Rocco Delhunty’s 1-yard run.

Wagner used his legs to score on a 21-yard run on the ensuing drive. He rushed for 41 yards on six carries in the contest.

“Braylon’s a special talent,” Gold said. “Anybody across the state that sees our clips or games knows that. Obviously, when you graduate four linemen and start two freshmen, there will be some growing pains. But we have a guy back there that can make things happen. I really like the way our offense is developing.

The Bulldogs then stopped the Elkers on 4th-and-2 at their 30-yard line, scoring two plays later on Wagner’s 30-yard touchdown pass to Breckin Minich.

In the final two minutes of the first half, Redbank Valley scored twice, first on Kieran Fricko’s 32-yard field goal, followed by Rylan Rupp’s second touchdown, a 10-yard pass from Wagner with 19 seconds to play in the half.

A one-handed interception by Jaxon Huffman with 49 seconds left set up the Bulldog’s final half score as they needed only 30 seconds to go 58 yards.

Along with the interception, Huffman caught four passes for 110 yards and a touchdown. Rylan Rupp caught six balls for 89 yards and a pair of scores.

“I couldn’t do any of that without my guys,” said Wagner. “Our line did a great job, and our skill guys are something else. We’re young, but we’re moving forward together. We are playing well right now. Our running game is coming along, and I know that anywhere I put the ball, those guys are going to catch it.”

Ridgway opened up the second half with an 11-play 64-yard drive capped off with Delhunty’s second touchdown, a 4-yard run.

Rocco Delhunty rushed for a game-high 162 yards on 27 carries but completed only 1-of-6 passes for 30 yards and an interception.

In the fourth quarter, Wagner scored his second rushing touchdown with a 25-yard run, and Austin Eastlick closed the scoring with a 90-yard run. Thanks to the long run, Eastlick rushed for 153 yards on 12 carries.

For both Redbank Valley and Ridgway, it’s back to work quickly, as both schools will be back in action Friday night.

The Bulldogs travel to Keystone, while the Elkers host Coudersport.

“This isn’t going to be anything I’ve ever experienced as a player or coach,” Gold concluded. “It’s an adversity we have to battle. I’m giving them a day off tomorrow to rest their bodies. Keystone had a bye and an extra week to prep, so we must be on our toes next week.”

Redbank Valley 52 Ridgway 16

Score by Quarters

Ridgway – 0 8 8 0 – 16

Redbank Valley – 14 24 0 14 – 52

Scoring Summary

First Quarter

RV -Jaxon Huffman 30 yd pass from Braylon Wagner, (Kieran Fricko pat), 7:18 – 9-67

RV – Rylan Rupp 15 yd pass from Wagner, (Fricko pat), 3:41 – 7-50

Second Quarter

R – Rocco Delhunty 1 yd run, (Michael Gerg rush), 10:07 – 10-64

RV – Wagner 21 yd run, (Fricko pat), 8:48 – 6-50

RV – Breckin Minich 30 yd pass from Wagner, (Fricko pat), 6:13 – 2-30

RV – Fricko 32 yd field goal, 2:02 – 8-61

RV – Rupp 10 yd pass from Wagner, (Fricko pat), 0:19 – 4-58

Third Quarter

R – Delhunty 4 yd run, (Delhunty rush), 5:45 – 11-60

Fourth Quarter

RV – Wagner 25 yd run, (Fricko pat), 10:33 – 4-52

RV – Austin Eastlick 90 yd run, (Fricko pat), 3:37 – 2-90

Individual Stats

Rushing: R – Delhunty 27-162, Michael Gerg 17-66, Markus Gerg 3-17, Nate Steger 2-4, Owen Steger 1-11, Team 1-(-5). Totals: 24-131. RV – Austin Eastlick 12-153, Wager 6-41, Landon Hornberger 3-10, Huffman 2-2, Team 1-0. Totals: 24-206.

Receiving: R – Frankie Miller 1-30. RV – Rupp 6-89, Carson Gould 4-47, Huffman 4-110, Drew Byers 1-3.

Passing: R – Delhunty 1-for-6, 30 yards, 1 INT. RV – Wagner  15-for-25, 249 yards, 4 touchdowns, Team 0-for-1.

Interceptions: RV – Huffman.

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