Grundy maintains playoff hope despite loss
Grundy (12) vs. Ridgeview (56)
Written: Oct 30, 2015
By LLOYD COMBS
for the Daily Telegraph
ROSE RIDGE, Va. — About one month into its inaugural season Ridgeview had lost four straight games and lost seven players to injury and playoffs were the last thing on coach Rick Mullins' mind.
Now with one week remaining in season number one for the new program the post-season is foremost on his mind.
The Wolfpack earned its fourth straight win and moved closer to a Region 2A West playoff berth with a 52-12 victory over Grundy Friday night.
Seniors Ryan Turner and James Stanley combined for 159 yards and six touchdowns to lead Ridgeview (5-4).
A speedy tailback, Turner picked his way through the Grundy defense for 153 yards and three TDs on 10 attempts.
Turner and sophomore quarterback Noah Mullins often set up Stanley, a powerful fullback who scored on three short runs, his only touches of the night.
"We knew we had to come into this game hyped up," Turner said. "This was really a crucial game for us as far as the playoffs. We just came out fired up and ready to play."
The Wolfpack got off to a fast start courtesy of three mishandled kickoffs by Grundy, which lost one of them.
The offense did the rest behind Turner, Stanley and Mullins, and a strong effort by the Wolfpack offensive line, building a 42-12 halftime lead.
"The offensive line I think played really well," Rick Mullins said. "When you open holes, you know we've got some backs that can run.
“Ryan and Dawson Kendrick, they complement each other well, two different running styles and James Stanley is a great blocking fullback. And our receivers blocked downfield well, that's how you get big runs, when your receivers are blocking downfield."
Turner scored on a 60-yard scamper on the first play of the second half and on the next Ridgeview series added a 30-yard TD run on his final carry of the night.
Grundy (4-6) got within 28-12 after an 8-yard touchdown pass from Cole Street to Dylan Wolford and an 8-yard scoring run by Jacob McNutt.
Noah Mullins added 53 yards rushing and threw for two scores, including a 34-yard TD pass to Austin Reynolds and a 10-yarder to Jacob Hensley on the final play of the first half.
"He's getting better," said Rick Mullins of his young QB, who was thrown into the position after a rash of injuries hit the Wolfpack early in the season. "He made some good decisions when to pull it down and run the ball."
Ridgeview registered eight sacks, three by Jason Rose, and held Grundy to seven yards on the ground.
It's been a bitter second half of the season for the Golden Wave, who started the year with such promise, winning their first four games.
Grundy (4-6) finished its regular season with a six-game losing streak and were outscored 288-70 in the process. The Wave could still, however, earn a 2A West playoff berth.
"We got to get back to work. We've still got a chance to make the playoffs and we've got to get back to the fundamentals and the basics," Golden Wave coach Jeremy Ward said. "We need to keep preparing as if we have another game."
Ridgeview is now fully out of the doldrums after its 1-4 start.
"We knew we were playing good people," Mullins said. "We knew we had so many injuries early in the year and getting a few of those guys back has made a big difference.
"We played four teams there in a row and their records speak for themselves. We were playing good people and we took our licks, but we got better, week by week."
Ridgeview will close out the regular season next week against a longtime district rival of Haysi's and regional rival of Clintwood.
"It's coming down to use against them and I think our guys will be excited to play them and I know Honaker will be excited to play us."
Grundy.....................6 6 0 0 — 12
Ridgeview..................21 21 14 0 — 56
Scoring Summary
R-Stanley 3 run (Ratliff kick)
R-Turner 7 run (Ratliff kick)
R-Reynolds 34 pass from Mullins (Ratliff kick)
G-Wolford 8 pass from Street (kick failed)
R-Stanley 2 run (Ratliff kick)
G-McNutt 8 run (pass failed)
R-Stanley 1 run (Ratliff kick)
R-Hensley 10 pass from Mullins (Ratliff kick)
R-Turner 60 run (Ratliff kick)
R-Turner 30 run (Ratliff kick)
Team Stats
First downs: G 10, R 14; Rushes-yards: G 32-7, R 28-276; Passing yards: G 141, R 80; Comp-Att-Int: G 13-16-0, R 6-7-1; Fumbles-lost G 1-0, R 4-1; Penalties-yards: G 4-45, R 0-0; Punts-average: G 4-29.3, R
1-36.
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