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MORRAL — After enjoying its first winning season in 20 years, Ridgedale coach Corey Chatman hopes his team is ready for what lies ahead.
“Like we tell the players, the Rockets aren’t surprising anyone this upcoming season. Every team we play will be ready to play us,” he said.
As last year’s Central District Coach of the Year in Division VII mentioned, there’s no sneaking up on unsuspecting opponents in 2024, so here are three things to know about the Ridgedale football team before the start of the season.
Check out last year’s honorees: All-Central District Football: Ridgedale’s Corey Chatman named top coach in Division VII
Last year’s Ridgedale prospectus: Ridgedale football guide: Rockets ‘light years ahead’ as program grows
1. Rockets relying on defense
Ridgedale held opponents to 20 or fewer points in seven of their 10 games last year and had two shutouts. They lost All-Ohio linebacker Nathan Thiel, fellow linebacker Logan Rasnick and defensive back Landon Murphy to graduation, but they have two stalwarts back along the defensive line in senior Brayden Townsend and junior Evan Ricketts, a pair of third-team All-Ohio picks in 2023. Townsend finished with 64 tackles, 18 tackles for loss and six sacks, while Rickets added 68 tackles, 21 for loss and six sacks.
Between those two bookends along the line will be senior Lake Mitchell and junior Michael Justice, while at linebacker will be junior Michael Deas, junior Brody Fultz and sophomore Hunter Hutchinson. Deas was second on the team in tackles with 77, plus picked off three passes, while Fultz had 51 tackles with eight for loss.
In the backfield, they will look to senior Caiden Daniel, A.J. Imbody, J.J. Slaughterbeck, sophomore Kingston McGary and junior Ayden Salyer. The leader of the group is Slaughterbeck who ended with 61 tackles and four interceptions.
Adding…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/2024-ridgedale-football-guide-want-080131765.html
Author : The Marion Star
Publish date : 2024-08-10 08:01:31
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