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Ridgewood 42, Mitchell 13

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Cristina Ledra/The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 13, 2007

NEW PORT RICHEY - Friday night started off poorly enough for Mitchell when Ridgewood worked downfield for a touchdown on the first drive of the game following an unsuccessful Mustangs onside kick to begin the game.

Then on Mitchell's first play from scrimmage, an attempted pass sailed a little too high, right into the hands of Ridgewood's Allyn Williamson and just like that, the Rams put the visiting Mustangs in a two-touchdown hole only halfway through the first quarter.

As Mitchell (2-4) continued to struggle on both sides of the ball and as Ridgewood conversely flexed its muscles, the margin between them grew wider until the Rams (6-0) ended up with a 42-13 win.

'We got beat up,' Mitchell coach Scott Schmitz said. 'We didn't play very well. I'm embarrassed by what we did tonight and I'm the head football coach so it starts with me. I'm embarrassed at the job I'm doing and I'm a little embarrassed with the way we're playing right now but we gotta get back to work on Monday and get ready for next week.'

Ridgewood's defense that admittedly had not been up to par with the Rams' offense in the last couple of games, put continuous pressure on Mitchell quarterback Tate Humphrey and held him to a grossly uncharacteristic 10 yards rushing and 49 yards passing with two interceptions.

The Rams also had five sacks; 3 1/2 from Arron Jackson, one from Ben Perry and a half from Tim Rearden.

'Coach Brian Wachtel defensive coordinator, he ran the defense the way it needs to be run,' Jackson said. 'The players just focused and did their assignments the way they're supposed to and that's mainly what kept him to those numbers. He's a great quarterback, he really is. He's one of the best out there in the county.'

Mitchell had a stated goal of trying to contain Ridgewood running back Byronell Arline, but with his 164 yards on 20 carries he still had three touchdowns. Arline had 172 yards and his three scores in the first half but was tackled for a big loss in one of only four carries he had in the second half after he recovered a fumbled pitch.

Ridgewood went into halftime with a 28-0 lead and after getting two sacks to knock the Mustangs out of scoring range, Rams quarterback T.J. Haab completed passes of 33 and 20 yards to Willie Nichols and Addidas Tolliver before capping the five-play drive with an 18-yard touchdown pass to Tolliver.

Mitchell finally got on the board late in the third quarter after Rickey Trinidad broke a 44-yard run, and two plays later, Humphrey ran in for the 5-yard score.

Haab answered with a two-play touchdown drive that ended with a 59-yard touchdown pass to Nichols.

The Mustangs' other touchdown came on a blocked punt that Tyrone Hendrix picked up in the end zone.

Mitchell then successfully executed an onside kick and recovered at the Ridgewood 47-yard line, only to have the ball intercepted two plays later by Frankie Downey.

R-Arline 5 run (Arline run)

R-Arline 13 run (Koon kick)

R-Arline 31 run (Koon kick)

R-Tolliver 18 pass from Haab (Koon kick)

M-Humphrey 5 run (kick failed)

R-Nichols 59 pass from Haab (Koon kick)

M-Hendrix recovered blocked punt in end zone (Vasquez kick)

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