A jubilant Ravenwood team celebrates after the final seconds have run off the scoreboard. Photo by Alexa Goss, for Brentwood Home Page.

By KELLY GILFILLAN
Brentwood Home Page
Ravenwood was ready for a win and proved it on the opening kickoff of the game against Page High School.  Andrew Cash, back for special teams to receive, ran the 80 yards to put six on the board for the Raptors.  It would be the first of eight touchdowns for the Raptors big night.

No. 73, Kyle Bolstad; No. 54, Ronnie Wright, and No. 40, Anthony Jones join their teammates running off the field after a play.

Jacob Grams gets in his position for the next play.

Raptor Riley Stoner, being interivewed after the game, had three tackles and an interception in Ravenwood's decisive win over Page. Photos by Alexa Goss for BHP

“It was exciting to make that first run,” said Cash, who would also later have an interception for the Raptors.

Junior kicker Thomas Dawson followed the touchdown with the first of several touchback kickoffs to the Patriots.  With overthrown passes and some great stops by defender Ryan Bednar, Page was three and out.  Bednar had the return this time for special teams bringing it back to the 44.

The Raptors worked their way down the field using the run and pushed through on a fourth and long.  Again, the Raptors went for it on fourth down and 11.  This time Keegan Leyrer connected on a 29 yard pass to Preston Carter.  Michael Giangreco completed his second PAT bringing the Raptors lead to 14-0 with 7:04 left in the first quarter.

This time the Patriots would be quick to retaliate 1 ½ minutes later.  On their third down, following a short carry and an incomplete pass, the Page quarterback Zach Hood connected with Stephen White receiver for a 72 yard touchdown reception.  The extra point was good bringing the score 14-7.

Ravenwood took their time on the next possession using all the weapons in their arsenal.  After four first downs, Leyrer connected with Payne Shanafelt on a 14 yard pass with 2:04 left in the house.  Giangreco was good for the extra point putting the score at 21-7 which would remain the score at the end of the first quarter.

With less than a minute in to the second quarter, Omar Joseph made a run for the Bruins to the one yard line.  Next play, Joseph had a one yard carry to put six on the board for the Bruins.  Giangreco’s fourth kick was good and the score was 28-7.

Page would take the ball on the seven yard line after a long kickoff by Dawson.   After a 14 play drive over a more than five minute possession, the Patriots turned the ball back over to the Raptors on the RHS seven yard line.  Tanner Withrow had the longest run of the night with a 95 yard dash just getting edged out at the two yard line.  Coach Schuman let him finish the job though with a 2 yard touchdown run to the right.  After the completed PAT, the Raptors were up 35-7 with 4:33 left in the half. 

After a pair of first downs, it appeared Page might gain some momentum but Raptor Riley Stoner, who also had three tackles on the night, stopped the progress with an interception with 1:05 left in the game.  The score remained 35-7 at the half.

"We needed that win," said Stoner.  "It was my first week back playing defense after a shoulder injury."

Page had first possession in the second half, but turned it over after three plays with an interception by Cash on the 49 yard line.  With 8:22 left in the third quarter, the Raptors would score the lone touchdown of the quarter.  Leyrer again connected with Shanafelt, this time on a 34 yard pass.  Giangreco’s kick brought the score to 42-7.

The Ravenwood coaching staff played over 70 players, Coach Tom Shuman estimated when all was said and done. “If we didn’t get you in tonight, I’m sorry,” he said to his team following the final touchdown. He told his players to rest up this weekend, because next week was going to be a huge one.

The game would remain scoreless until time was running out in the game.  A Page fumble would set up a last minute push by the Raptors which would cap off with a 13 yard touchdown run by Conley Jolly.

“I’m really proud of them,” he said of his players. “This is the first time they all had fun.”

Shuman congratulated his players for conducting themselves with class and dignity in their win over Page. Afterward, he acknowledged his coaches could have used the game to practice more plays and give the JV players more experience but instead, he said, they chose to play a very conservative game in the second half. They are our neighbors, he said of Page, “and they are a good team with a good coaching staff.”

"I'm pumped for next week," said Stoner.  "I know we can take them (BHS).  Clay Webber is good and he will step it up.  We will have to step up the coverage."

RHS had their first large win at home over the Patriots with a final score 48-7. 

Overall, the Raptors had a successful offensive game rushing for 203 yards to Page’s 126.  Withrow had the high on rushing for RHS with 100 yards, followed by Jolly with 34, Joseph for 29 and Jake Cameron for 23.

QB Leyrer was eight for 10 in completions with 115 and back QB Johnson was one for two for 26 yards.  Leading receivers were Shanafelt with three for 57 yards, Carter with two for 46, Harry Taylor with one for 26, Harry Donahue one for 8, Cash two for four yards.

Camden Grecco led the defense with 3.5 tackles, Stoner and Bednar with three, Withrow with two and Vincent Swann with 2.5.

Ravenwood prepares this week to take on Brentwood High School in the Battle of the Woods Friday, September 17 at 7:30 p.m. at Ravenwood’s home field.