Cedar Ridge Win Knots up District 13-6A

By Chris Doelle
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Updated: October 31, 2015

photo: Steve Thomas

Cedar Ridge Snaps Hendrickson’s Seven-Game Win Streak

After Friday’s torrential rain forced the game to be postponed to Saturday afternoon, Round Rock Cedar Ridge dominated Pflugerville Hendrickson for a 25-14 win. The Raiders’ defense held the Hawks to 256 total yards of offense and forced two interceptions and a fumble. Hendrickson, meanwhile, struggled to move the ball consistently throughout the game and were plagued with penalties on both sides of the ball.

Cedar Ridge opened the game with a 61-yard drive that culminated in a nine-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Garrett Sharp to senior wide receiver Kadarius Daniels. Following the touchdown, Cedar Ridge lined up in a swinging gate formation; and Sharp ran the ball in for a two-point conversion to make the score 8-0. On the ensuing drive, the Raider defense held Hendrickson to a net total of one yard and forced the Hawks to punt. After a friendly Hendrickson bounce and a controversial ball spot, the Raiders took over at their own yard line. On this drive, the Hawks’ defense held the Raiders to 15 yards total offense and forced a 3-and-out of their own. With great field position starting at their own 49-yard line, senior quarterback Karrington Kearney used his legs to get the Hawks on the scoreboard with a 21-yard touchdown and narrow the gap to 8-7 Cedar Ridge. Both teams went three-and-out on their ensuing drives.

After Hendrickson forced Cedar Ridge to another three-and-out early in the second quarter, Cedar Ridge forced their first of three turnovers for the day with an interception. Following the interception, Cedar Ridge culminated a 65-yard drive with a 14-yard touchdown pass from Sharp to Daniels to take a 15-7 lead. On the ensuing drive, the Raiders forced the Hawks to go three-and-out; and senior defensive back Logon Benedict blocked the punt to give Cedar Ridge the ball at the Hendrickson 14-yard line. Despite the excellent field position, Cedar Ridge could not convert the blocked punt into points. Instead, the Raiders turned the ball over on downs on fourth-and-goal at the Hendrickson four-yard line due to a controversial offensive-pass-interference penalty. Following the turnover-on-downs, the Raiders defense again gave their offense outstanding field positon as senior linebacker Connor Kaup recovered a Kearney fumble at the Hendrickson eight-yard line. On the next play, Sharp scored his second touchdown of the night. This time, however, he did it on the ground and put Cedar Ridge up 22-7. On the following drive, Hendrickson managed to drive to the Cedar Ridge 32-yard line before the Raider defense held strong to preserve the 22-7 lead going into halftime.

After both teams went three-and-out to open the second half, the Cedar Ridge defense again came up big forcing Hendrickson to turn the ball over on downs at the Cedar Ridge 49-yard line. The Raider offense then capitalized on the stop with a 33-yard field goal to make the score 25-7 with 3:40 left in the third quarter. Following the field goal, Hendrickson again narrowed the gap to 25-14 on a five-yard touchdown run by sophomore running back DJ Jackson. Despite Hendrickson’s defense forcing a turnover-on-downs on the ensuing drive, the Hawks’ offense could not capitalize going three-and-out instead. On the ensuing drive, Hendrickson’s defense again forced Cedar Ridge to turn the ball over on downs with 2:30 left in the game. After a chop-block set up Hendrickson with second and 25, Cedar Ridge’s defense sounded the death knell as Kaup intercepted Kearney’s pass at the 50-yard line. With Hendrickson out of timeouts, Cedar Ridge was able to kneel out the clock and hold on for a 25-14 win.

With the win, Cedar Ridge improves to 8-1 overall and 5-1 in district. As mentioned, the Raiders’ win also creates a three-way tie for the District 13-6A title between Round Rock, Cedar Ridge, and Hendrickson. Next week, the Raiders close out the regular season at home against Round Rock Westwood (0-9 overall, 0-6 in district). Hendrickson, meanwhile, falls to 7-2 overall and 5-1 in district. The Hawks close out their regular season next week at Leander Rouse (2-7 overall, 1-5 district).

by Steve Thomas