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Valley Forge was looking to avenge it’s last second loss to North Ridgeville last year, but the running back combo of Zach Barnhart and Evan Monter proved to be too much for the Valley Forge Patriot defense. In a thriller that went down to the last 40 seconds North Ridgeville Ranger Zach Barnhart ran 3 yards for the touchdown to tie the game at 20 a piece. The PAT put the Rangers ahead 21-20 and that would prove to be the winning score.
Patriot QB Dan Kiewel as time was running down in the first ran 23 yards to paydirt, giving the Patriots the 6-0 lead. They would miss the 2 point conversion. Kiewel would finish the night 1 of 3 for 22 yards and 6 yards on the ground as well as a touchdown.
The Rangers wouldn’t stay down long however as a little bit later in the quarter, Evan Monter would take it 18 yards into the endzone to put the Rangers up 7-6.
Each team seemed to find their stride in the second quarter as good old ground and pound football does it again. The running back combination of Zach Barnhart and Evan Monter would at times drag the defense for a few extra yards per carry. These 2 were focused on their game tonight.
Patriot RB Shane Warden could also be seen dragging Ranger defenders a time or two. Warden would take the ball to the house from 11 yards out with 5:43 left in the first half. Increasing the Patriots lead to 12-7.
In the third quarter Valley Forge and North Ridgeville would work their way down the field on the backs of their rushers. The Ranger combo of Barnhart and Monter kept the defenders guessing as they cut and found open lanes but weren’t able to cap it off with a score due to an Watchorn interception. With time running down in the third, Patriot RB Elijah Williams would add another 6 to the Patriots lead making it 18-7. The Patriots converted the 2 point conversion to make it 20-6. Valley Forge was 1 of 3 on 2 point conversions. This proved to be the difference maker in the game.
The fourth quarter was all North Ridgeville. The ground game was strongest in the fourth quarter. Watchorn kept putting the ball in the hands of his trusty running backs as they scored early to make it 20-14 and then in the closing seconds to win it 21-20. Running backs. Monter and Barnhart absolutely dominated the fourth quarter.
North Ridgeville would methodically march down the field and with 40 seconds showing on the clock Watchorn would hand off to Barnhart for the final 3 yards to tie the game at 20-20.The PAT was good, giving North Ridgeville the lead for good.
Valley Forge:
QB Dan Kiewel would go 1 for 3 passing with 22 yards passing and 6 yards rushing, including a 23 yard TD run.
RB Shane Warden 10 carries 45 yards
North Ridgeville:
QB Brendan Watchorn 7 of 13 passing for 49 yards
RB Evan Monter 15 carries 95 yards 1 TD
The Player of the Game
North Ridgeville RB Zach Barnhart
33 Carries 170 yards 2 TD
Zach carried this team down the field in the final minutes and is our Player of the Game
WE ARE NR!!! idk if they still do that chant or not but we did back in my day lol