by YOU CAN WATCH ALL THE BIG PLAYS OF THIS AMAZING GAME HERE
North Ridgeville, OH – The North Ridgeville Rangers pulled out a win on Senior night 42-28 over the visiting Amherst Steele Comets. Cole Miller led the way for the Rangers as he was responsible for five of the six touchdowns scored.
North Ridgeville kicked off the game with an onside kick recovery that led to an early score for the Rangers. Cole Miller found Dylan DeShazo for a 42-yard touchdown to cap off the drive. Later in the first quarter, the Rangers were at it again. On a 4th and short, quarterback Cole Miller kept the ball himself and scampered into the endzone to give the Rangers an early two-score lead.
The North Ridgeville defense was lighting up the line of scrimmage early as well. The Amherst offense, led by Senior QB Cy Christensen, could not gain any traction with either their run or pass game. Following a turnover on downs thanks to a high snap on an Amherst punt, the Rangers were given a short field to extend their lead further.
Cole Miller found the endzone for a 2nd time in the first half giving the Rangers a 21-0 lead with 7:15 to play in the 2nd quarter. Everything was going North Ridgeville’s way early on. Amherst was not going to go down without a fight though. On the ensuing Amherst drive, Cy Christensen took matters into his own hands. He sprinted down the field for a 64-yard touchdown run to get the Comets on the board.
On their final possession of the first half, Cy Christensen found Cael Charles for a 42-yard touchdown to cut into North Ridgeville’s lead further. Heading into the break we had a brand-new ball game as the Rangers lead was now just 21-14,
The Amherst defense came ready to play in the 2nd half. Jack Colman picked off a Cole Miller pass attempt to start the 2nd half strong for the Comets. However, the offense would not be to capitalize as the Ranger defense stood tall. Later in the 3rd quarter Cole Miller found the endzone with his legs for the 3rd time to give North Ridgeville a 28-14 lead.
Amherst would punch right back however, as Michael Passarrello found pay dirt from three yards out to cut back into the Rangers’ lead. North Ridgeville, trying to put the Steele away, drove down the field on their next possession. Tyler Denn did not have plans for another Ranger touchdown though. He intercepted a Cole Miller pass attempt and returned it 70 yards deep into Ranger territory.
On the ensuing drive, Cy Christensen found David Dudziak for a 19-yard touchdown. After trailing 21-0 in the first half, the Amherst Steele had tied the game at 28 all.
Late in the fourth quarter with just under 3:30 to play in the game, Cole Miller and the North Ridgeville Rangers regained the lead. Miller found Cole Allison for a 55-yard touchdown. Big plays were happening all game long on both sides of the ball.
Carter Clark came up with potentially the biggest play of the game for the Ranger defense on the next Amherst drive. With a 4th and short opportunity, Cy Christensen ran the ball up the middle where he was met by Clark near the first down marker. The ball was marked short of the line to gain giving North Ridgeville the ball back late and with the lead.
Matthew Flesher put the icing on the cake with a long touchdown run with just over a minute left in the game. The 42-28 score would be the final as the North Ridgeville Rangers held off the comeback attempt from the Amherst Steele Comets.
Next week the Rangers will finish off their season at Olmsted Falls as Amherst will stay at home and welcome Midview.
Players of the Game
North Ridgeville Quarterback Cole Miller took home the Cement Mason Local 404 Offensive Player of the Game honors, as his teammate Carter Clark took home the Mickey’s Defensive Player of the Game Award.
