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Rams Set To Take On Crabs On Friday

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By CRISTINA LEDRA, The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 14, 2007

It took three seasons for Ridgewood's crop of seniors to reach the playoffs, but just being there isn't enough to satisfy them.

For too many games the Rams knew what it felt like to lose and were reminded of that feeling in the team's only loss this season to Land O' Lakes two weeks ago.

"It changed the team's mentality big time," running back Byronell Arline said. "We know what losing is and none of us want to go down that road again."

For Friday's regional quarterfinals, the Rams travel to New Smyrna Beach to face 10-0 Daytona Beach Seabreeze, a team ranked No. 3 in Class 4A.

This is the first playoff appearance for Ridgewood since 2002.

"Last year we came up short, obviously, we didn't get here," linebacker Ben Perry said. "Now this year, it's good to make the playoffs but what's making the playoffs if you don't win? It's just one more loss."

Watching film on them Monday, Ridgewood coach Chris Taylor didn't notice any weaknesses in the Sandcrabs.

Seabreeze hasn't scored less than 20 points in any game this season, averaging 33.2 per contest, and its fast, athletic defense has given up 12.8 points per game.

Last week, they beat Daytona Beach Mainland, the 5A-District 4 champ, without their starting quarterback Troy Dannehower, who is responsible for most of their offense but was held out due to an ankle injury, according to reports in the Daytona Beach News-Journal. Dannehower is expected to play this week.

Conversely, Ridgewood's offense has torn up opposing defenses for an average of 39 points per game, and its defense has allowed 15.6 points per game.

"We're going to have our hands full but then again we're not going to back down either," Taylor said. "They haven't seen a running back like our running back and we're going to be physical and try to match up with them."

Understandably, the Rams will rely on Arline to eat up yards and the clock.

Arline is averaging 218.8 yards and 3.5 touchdowns per game and the Rams are going to need at least an average performance from Arline even if it doesn't come in big chunks like it usually does.

"Our offense is going to have to be able to run the football," Taylor said. "We want to keep the ball and get first downs. We don't have to score every drive but if we can keep their offense off the field that's going to play in our favor. That's something that we have to understand.

"Even if we have a 40-yard drive that takes up five minutes and we don't score, that was a good job by our offense keeping their offense off the field. When you play good football teams like this you have to win the little battles and a lot of those 3- and 4-yard gains instead of 15- and 20-yard gains are little battles as long as you keep the chains moving."

This is clearly Ridgewood's biggest challenge so far this season, though they feel they have had good warm-ups in preparation for Seabreeze even if the teams they have faced haven't been as strong.

Perry believes Ridgewood's defense matches up well with the Sandcrabs' spread offense.

"We've played good teams," Perry said. "Land O' Lakes, they're always good, they have a big line that'll come straight at you; Tarpon, they're full of athletes; we played East Lake this year and they're going to the playoffs and they've beaten good teams like Countryside. We feel like we've played fair competition just like everyone else."

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