Special to D9Sports.Com

RIDGWAY – Watch out, here come the Elkers. Ridgway started the season 1-2 and the rest of District 9 left them lying in the middle of the road for dead. The only problem was nobody remembered to tell the players their season was over. All Ridgway did was win five straight games to claim one of the four spots in the D9 Class A playoffs.

Ridgway clinched the fourth and final spot Friday night with a 23-0 victory over the visiting Cameron County Red Raiders. Did I say victory? Oops, what I meant to say was a 23-0 total domination of Cameron County.

"This is something the senior class has worked for and I couldn’t have picked a more fitting night for the seniors to come through and clinch a playoff spot," Ridgway head coach Mark Morelli said. "This senior class was 3-5 in junior high and they epitomize what hard work and dedication can do. We had a couple of situation where we faced adversity and their leadership came through."

Ridgway’s defense was the story last night as they held the Red Raiders to a total of a negative five yards from scrimmage.

"Defensively we just had a superb team effort," Morelli said. "We are doing a lot of good things on defense right now."

Cameron County opened the game on offense and Keith Horning picked up three yards on first down. Ryan Clingan threw in complete on second down on a halfback option pass. On third down, Kyle Vogt connected with Horning for nine yards and a Cameron County first down. Clingan picked up two yards on first down before Vogt threw incomplete on second and third and the Red Raiders were forced to punt the ball away.

On first down, Josh Mercer was stopped in the backfield for a 3-yard loss. Ryan Mitchell picked up five yards on second down to set up a third-and-8. Andy Kelly connected with Josh Shirey for seven yards. Faced with a fourth-and-1 from the Cameron County 49, Kelly took the ball on a keeper and picked up the first down with two tough yards up the middle.

Mercer carried the ball for one yard on first down before he was tackled for a 3-yard loss on second down. On third-and-12 from the 49, Kelly’s pass was tipped and intercepted by Vogt as Cameron County took control at their own 36-yard line.

Cameron County’s next possession went nowhere but backwards. On first down, Ridgway’s Ed Weyant nailed Clingan for a 3-yard loss. On second down, Toby Nashadka dropped Horning for a 1-yard loss. On third down, Cameron County was called for offensive pass interference for a 15-yard loss and the loss of down, forcing another punt.

Ridgway took control at their own 21 and Mitchell carried the ball on four straight plays for 22 yards and a pair of first downs. On first down from the 43, Dave Bundy powered his way to three yards before Kelly hit Mitchell for nine yards and another first down.

On first-and-10 from the Cameron County 45, Bundy scooted outside for 12 yards and another first down. Mitchell then picked up six yards before Mercer ran for eight and another Elker first down at the 19-yard line. Mitchell picked up three yards on first down as the first quarter came to a close with no score.

Mercer was stopped for no gain and Kelly was sacked for an 11-yard loss forcing Ridgway into a fourth-and-18 from the Cameron County 27. Vogt intercepted Kelly’s pass at the four as the Red Raiders took possession.

On first down, Vogt dropped back to pass, but Ridgway’s Justin Buehler flushed him from the pocket. Vogt was running for his life, with Buehler breathing down his neck, when he fired a pass out of bounds. Vogt was called for intentional grounding and since he was in the end zone when he threw the ball away, Ridgway was awarded a safety as the Elkers grabbed a 2-0 lead.

After the free kick, Ridgway set-up shop at the Cameron County 43. On first down Mitchell tried the middle for six yards. Bundy ran for three yards before Mitchell picked up the first down with a 6-yard run. Kelly picked up two yards on first down before Mercer slid through the middle for seven yards. On third-and-1, Mitchell powered his way for four yards and another Ridgway first down.

Mitchell carried the ball again for two hard fought yards on first down to the 13. Kelly took the ball on a keeper and rushed around the end for the final 13 yards and the touchdown. Johnson split the upright on the extra point try and Ridgway led, 9-0.

After the kick-off, the Red Raiders went to work at their own 27 and Eric Campbell was tackled by Mercer for no gain. On second down, Vogt tried a quarterback keeper and he was greeted by the entire Ridgway line as he was stopped for no gain. Vogt threw incomplete on third down and the Red Raiders were stopped again. Campbell dropped back to punt but the snap sailed over his head and he was tackled for the 26-yard loss. Turning the ball over to Ridgway on downs.

On first down Mercer bulled his way into the end zone from the two. Kelly hooked up with Shirey on the the faked extra-point kick and Ridgway led 17-0.

Ridgway forced Cameron County into another three-down and puint series.

On first-and-goal from the two, Mercer cut through the middle for eight yards. Mitchell gave Ridgway another first down with a 14 yard blast up the middle. Kelly threw incomplete on first-and-10 from the 26 before Mercer picked up two yards on second.

Mitchell blasted the middle for nine yards and a first down at the 15. Mitchell got the call again and he picked up seven yards to the eight. On second-and-3 from the eight, Mercer sliced and dice his way through the defense for eight yards and another score. The extra point kick was blocked, but Ridgway took the lead 23-0.

Cameron County ran two plays before the half ended with Ridgway in front 23-0.
Ridgway opened the second half with a 14-play, 19-yard drive that resulted in an Elker punt.
The Ridgway defense didn’t miss a beat in the second half. Cameron County’s Campbell picked up eight yards up the middle on first down. On second down, Vogt hooked up with Campbell on a swing pass but the Elkers’ Mercer was there to drop Campbell for a 3-yard loss. Campbell got the call again and Ridgway’s Buehler dropped him for a 3-yard loss, forcing the Red Raiders to punt.

After the punt Ridgway went on a 42-yard drive that ended with an interception by Scott Aikens.

Cameron County started at their own 43-yard line and Vogt hit Horning for three yards. A penalty backed the Red Raiders up five yards before Vogt hooked up with Horning again, but this time Ridgway’s Tim Wright dropped Horning for a 1-yard loss. On third-and-13, Dan Bjorkquist sacked Vogt for a 12-yard loss forcing another Cameron County punt.

Ridgway took control at the Cameron County 46-yard line and they drove the ball to the 15 where the drive stalled and the Red Raiders took over on downs.

Cameron County was able to pick-up their second first down of the night as time expired and Ridgway posted the 23-0 victory.

Ridgway will return to action on Friday, Oct. 25 when they travel to Smethport for a 7:30 p.m. start.
Ridgway 23, Cameronn County 0
R CC
First Downs 12 2
Rushes-Yards 49-183 16-(-7)
Passing Yards 67 30
Passes 8-16-3 5-11-0
Total Yards 250 -5
Fumbles-Lost 2-0 2-0
Penalties 3-20 5-55
Individual Statistics
Rushing: Ridgway — Dave Bundy (5-16); Ryan Mitchell (18-100); Josh Mercer (14-41); Tom Buck(2-(-1)); Andy Kelly (8-21); Tim Wright (2-6). Cameron County — Keith Horning (2-2); Ryan Clingan (4-15); Kyle Vogt (4-0); Eric Campbell (5-(-19)); Adam Kesterholt (1-(-5)).
Passing: Ridgway — Andy Kelly 8-16-3 67 yds). Cameron county — Kyle Vogt (4-9-0 8 yds); ryan Clinagn (1-2-0 22 yds).
Receiving: Ridgway — Ryan Mitchell (2-27); Josh shirey (5-34); Tim Wright (1-6). Cameron County — Keith Horning (3-11); eric Campbell (1-(-3)); Kyle Vogt (1-22).
Scoring Summary
Second Quarter
R - Buehler Qb Sack safety; 10:22
R - Kelly 13 yd run (Johnson Kick PAT); 6:17
R - Mercer 2 yd run (Kelly pass to Shirey 2-PAT); 4:49
R - Mercer 8 yd run (Kick failed); 1:07