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River View pulls out victory in final minute

River View (28) vs. Ravenswood (23)
Written: Nov 12, 2011
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By JONATHAN GREENE

Bluefield Daily Telegraph

RAVENSWOOD — In their first ever playoff game last year, River View fell to Franklin.

The Raiders second playoff game in school was a different story on Friday night against Ravenswood.

River View rallied on two different occasions including scoring the go-ahead touchdown with 35 seconds remaining to defeat the host Red Devils in a thriller at Flinn Field, 28-23.

“I’m just so excited,” River View head coach Mitch Estep said. “I’m so pleased our kids were able to hang in there and we fought back. We’ve had a couple bad weeks.

“It just seemed like everything in the world has gone against us. This is just a thing to put us back together on the right track. We’re excited about this win.

“[Ravenswood] was a super football team. When you walk in the stadium, you see all the tradition they have. Our kids just hung in there. Just a super win for us.”

Coming off two straight loses to end the regular season, the Raiders were able to win their first postseason game in school history while knocking off a Ravenswood squad that reached the state championship game a year ago.

“It was a heck of a high school football game,” Ravenswood head coach Dick Strum said. “We had a chance to win it and let them stick around and had a penalty that gave them a first down. That let them keep the ball.

“It was a tremendous ball game. Both teams played. We got butchered up and got some injuries. I thought both groups played well.”

After a Brandon Cunningham field goal, the Red Devils (8-3) took a 23-22 lead with just over three minutes remaining.

River View (9-2) was able to put together a drive, but was in trouble on a fourth and seven at the 33-yard line. On the ensuing play, Ravenswood was called for a pass interference penalty which gave the Raiders new life.

That put the ball inside the red zone and Jacob Muncy hit Chad Franklin in the back of the end zone with 35 seconds left to give River View a 28-23 lead following a missed two-point conversion attempt.

The Red Devils had one last chance, but Franklin intercepted Dustin Derito’s fourth down pass to seal the victory.

“We got back in it, just failed to finish,” Strum said. “We just didn’t finish strong.”

River View won the toss and elected to receive to open the game.

The Raiders marched 71 yards on 11 plays for the game’s first touchdown as Trey Bailey plunged in from one yard out. River View went for two and Jacob Muncy’s throw was off target.

Ravenswood answered in five short plays. Jeremy Lawrence broke free for a 21-yard gain then Dustin Derito called his number two straight times with the second being a three-yard score. The Red Devils added the extra point to take a 7-6 lead.

The Raiders fumbled the ensuing kickoff, but Ravenswood had to settle for a pooch punt.

After a River View punt, the Red Devils fumbled one their next possession, but three plays later Jordan Wilson fumbled and Ravenswood recovered.

The Red Devils marched the length of the field, yet their drive looked to stall out on fourth and four at the 14-yard line. However, the Raiders jumped offside giving Ravenswood’s offense a second chance.

Two handoffs to Devon Crews were all it took for another Red Devil touchdown to make it 14-6 midway through the second quarter.

River View’s offense struggled to find its rhythm on the Raiders’ final two possessions. They were helped out though by two missed field goals by Ravenswood kicker Brandon Cunningham.

“We got down there a few times and couldn’t punch it in,” Strum said.

Despite being out gained in total offense 215 to 99, River View only trailed by eight, 14-6, heading into halftime.

Muncy completed only three of his nine first-half pass attempts for 12 yards while the majority of the Raiders’ offense came off two reverses to Leshon Benton.

“He was [off],” Estep said of Muncy. “That happens in big games. When he gets on, he’s tough.

“We got a lot people around him. It’s not just him.”

A Jordan Wilson touchdown in third quarter plus a hook-and-ladder two-point conversion tied the game at 14 all. Muncy hit Benton on a quick out pass then Benton flipped the ball to Wilson who trotted across the goal line for the conversion.

River View regained the lead in the fourth quarter after giving the ball to their bruising fullback Trey Bailey.

After a Raiders fumble recovery on a mishandled pitch by Ravenswood, Bailey took three carries for 34 yards to start the drive then finished it with a two-yard score.

“It changed the momentum,” Estep said. “They got some of it back, but they never got it all back. The touchdown we scored when he ran it three, four times in a row with physical running changed the momentum to our side.

“Glad to have him back and maybe in a week, we’ll get some more back. The kids just played hard and believed.”

Ravenswood would answer with a Derito to Zach Martin 28-yard touchdown pass. The two-point conversion failed to make it 22-20 with 7:50 remaining.

The Red Devils forced River View to punt and Kurt Schindler picked up the ball at midfield and sprinted 44 yards to the six-yard line.

However, the Raiders’ defense came up with three big stops to force a 20-yard field goal by Cunningham. Cunningham split the uprights with 3:11 remaining to give Ravenswood a 23-22 lead.

River View would not give up as the Raiders marched 70 yards for the game-winning score.

“We’ve been there before,” Estep said. “We’re seasoned coaches. The kids kept fighting back.

“That’s not the first game we’ve came back this year. We did it against Wyoming East and Man. They just believe in themselves.”

Muncy finished with 124 yards and a touchdown on 13 of 28 passing. Bailey had 99 yards on 18 carries and two scores.

Jeremy Lawrence led Ravenswood with 135 yards on 17 carries. Derito finished with 51 yards rushing and 122 passing.

The win advances River View to the quarterfinals next weekend where they’ll face second-ranked Shady Spring who defeated Scott 34-22 on Friday night.

“It’s a privilege and honor to coach these young men,” Estep said. “I’m so proud. I’m just glad to be going to the next round.”

— Contact Jonathan Greene atjgreene@bdtonline.com

At Flinn Field

River View..........6 0 8 14 — 28

Ravenswood..........7 7 0 9 — 23

First Quarter

RV - Trey Bailey 1 rush (PAT failed), 7:37

RW - Dustin Derito 3 rush (Brandon Cunningham kick), 5:30

Second Quarter

RW - Devon Crews 5 rush (Cunningham kick), 7:18

Third Quarter

RV - Jordan Wilson 5 rush (Wilson via Leshon Benton from Jacob Muncy), 3:11

Fourth Quarter

RV - Trey Bailey 2 rush (Benton from Muncy), 9:13

RW - Zach Martin 28 pass from Derito (PAT failed), 7:50

RW - Cunningham 20 FG, 3:11

RV - Chad Franklin 13 pass from Muncy (PAT failed), 0:35
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GAME SCOREBOARD
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 OT SCORE
River View 6 0 8 14 0 28
Ravenswood 7 7 0 9 0 23
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