by CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE GAME – https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Gt9aji5s0q5PynaQuvR8ydLQlIYsjwIM/view?usp=drive_web
Ravenna, Ohio – After a close week one victory at Tallmadge, in which they needed and got a goal-line stand, Ravenna opened up the home portion of their schedule with a 61-0 shutout victory over visiting John Marshall.
Ravenna got things started on their first drive, taking advantage of a short field, thanks to an interception by senior defensive back Zeph Robinson.
On fourth down, senior quarterback AJ Lunardi pushed his way into the endzone, and the ensuing two-point conversion was successful, giving the Ravens an early 8-0 lead. He would add his second rush TD of the game later in the first to add to the lead.
In the blink of an eye, the Ravens would score again, this time on the defensive side of the ball. Senior defensive back Paul Henderson picked off a John Marshall pass and took it to the house.
And on the Ravens ensuing possession, Lunardi would do the same thing, rushing into the end zone for his 3rd touchdown of the night, and Ravenna led 29-0 after the first quarter.
In the second quarter, Ravenna scored on an interception return for a touchdown by senior defensive back David Skidmore, a 12-yard TD scamper by Cordell King, a safety on a fumbled punt in the end zone, and a 14-yard rushing touchdown by Zeph Robinson.
With the running clock going in the second half, the Ravens scored twice more, on Cordell King’s second rushing TD, in the third quarter, and a safety in the fourth, for the final margin.
Ravenna Ravens head coach Jim Lunardi gave his thoughts on the impressive performance of his team, and also talked about the upcoming rivalry game with Kent Roosevelt. Last year, the Rough Riders won, 23-20, stopping the Ravens from qualifying for postseason play.
“No week is very easy. They prepare like we prepare. Last year on paper with the Kent (Roosevelt) game, we felt like we were better on paper, but you play the game for a reason. We play the game to determine a winner, and the best team won. We try to prepare our kids no different than school.
They understand that it’s a culture here. They know what they’re gonna get from me, and how I prepare. I expect them to prepare the same way.” said Ravenna head coach Jim Lunardi.
For John Marshall head coach Terrence Cleggett, it was a frustrating game, as the Lawyers struggled at both ends of the field.
In the fourth quarter, they completed a pass that got them to midfield, but three bad snaps led to the second safety of the night by the Ravenna defense.
“We were lined up wrong, couldn’t pass the ball, couldn’t run the ball. We couldn’t do anything right today. We have a very young team and we definitely showed our youth tonight. We have to get the fundamentals right.
We have to keep hammering down the fundamentals so that when we get to Senate League play, we’ll be ready to go defend the Senate championship.” said Cleggett.
The Ravens move to 2-0 and host rival Kent Roosevelt next Friday evening. The Lawyers fall to 1-1 and travel to Cuyahoga Heights next Friday evening.
