Ryle 20 Highlands 13 (Frosh)

Each week my partner Lee Witte will be covering the Highlands frosh team. Here is his breakdown of the game from last night:

The Ryle Raider frosh took care of business last night on their home field, holding the high scoring Bluebirds to 13 points while also improve to 3-0 on the season. Led by a strong running game, the Raiders look to have a bright future. #24 Travis Pavy and #44 Tanner Pulice led the ground attack for the Raiders. Pulice also returned a kickoff 85 yards for a TD just before halftime.

The Birds were led by their do it all QB/LB Donovan Mccoy, who ran and threw for decent yardage. McCoy was in on numerous tackles at LB and should be considered on of the best players in NKY at the freshman level. Jac Collinsworth also ran the ball well for the Birds, scoring on a 5 yard run in the 4th quarter.

Key turning point in the game was the kickoff return for a TD by the Raiders right before halftime to put them up 13-6 instead of 7-6. Also, a fumble by a Bluebird ball carrier that thwarted a long 3rd quarter drive at the Ryle 25 yard line took the wind out of their sails. The Birds looked poised to take it in for a score and would have either tied the game or put them ahead. Credit the Raider defense, a tough, hard hitting group who brought it on every play and forced the turnover.

The Raiders led 20-13 and had the ball with 4 minutes to play and driving, but on 4th and 3 from the Bluebird 18 yard line they decided to go for it. The Raiders have a very solid kicker, who had kicked a 41 yarder the week before, but elected to go for the W rather than playing it safe and kicking a FG and lost on the gamble. The Birds then took over on downs at their own 18 with 2:14 to play. McCoy engineered a drive down the field with a mixture of nice runs and a passed but the play of the drive was a 35 yard TB pass from Collinsworth to Luke Turner to keep the drive alive. With 1st and 10 and at the Raider 25 yard line, the Bluebirds drive stalled as the Raider defense stuffed 2 running plays and forced an imcompletion on 3rd down. McCoy was pressured on 4th down and threw a fade pattern to David Christian that hung up in the air and was picked off at the 2 yard line. The Raiders were content to take a knee and finish the game with a 20-13 W.

These two teams could meet later in the year when the playoffs come around. Congrats to the Raiders in their big win.