Ravenscroft football
FILE PHOTO
Fullback Chase Douglas scored a three-yard touchdown in the Ravens' 57-20 win over Wake Christian Friday night. Ravenscroft hosts North Raleigh Christian Academy next week.
Ravens rout Wake Christian
For the second straight week, the Ravenscroft football team rode an offensive explosion to a victory, defeating Wake Christian 57-20 Friday night.
And just like last week — a 55-3 win over Fayetteville Christian — the Ravens were quick out of the gate, building a 41-6 halftime lead.
On Ravenscroft's first drive, Connor Gonet took a handoff, followed his blocking to the left, and then cut back to the right for a 37-yard touchdown run less than two minutes into the game.
Gonet’s 104 rushing yards led all running backs, and marked the second straight game he's eclipsed the century mark.
Teammate Shane Bird also showcased his speed on back-to-back plays early in the first quarter.
First, Bird forced a Wake Christian punt by running down the Bulldogs’ Brandon Thomas for a loss on third down. He then fielded the ensuing punt and took it 50 yards for a touchdown.
With Baker Mill's PAT, Ravenscroft jumped out 14-0.
Following another Wake Christian three-and-out, the Ravens’ offense took over at midfield with six minutes to play in the first quarter.
On first down, QB Quinn Billerman found Temple Sloan on a screen pass, and the running back tiptoed down the left sideline for a 49-yard touchdown. The extra point was good, putting the Ravens up 21-0.
“We came into the game knowing that we were going to try to establish a short passing game, and I think that helped us move the ball," Billerman said.
For the game, the Ravenscroft quarterback was a very efficient, completing eight of nine passes for 240 yards and three touchdowns. Nearly all of his completions were screen passes resulting in big gains.
Down 21-0, the Bulldogs tried to get something going on offense, but the stout Ravenscroft defense would not yield. Wake Christian was again forced to punt.
Bird then returned the kick 25 yards to the Bulldogs’ 37-yard line. On four punt returns and a kickoff, the senior totaled 124 yards. He consistently gave the Ravens’ offense a short field, and more often than not the offense capitalized.
Following an 18-yard run by Sloan, Billerman kept it himself and scored from 19-yards out.
“We were running a read — which is like an option play — and the defensive end crushed down, so I pulled the ball and ran,” Billerman explained. “There was good blocking on the perimeter. Our receivers are getting a lot better at blocking on the perimeter. They work at it every week.”
Wake Christian blocked the extra point, and the first quarter ended with Ravenscroft on top 27-0.
Early in the second quarter, senior WR Hartland Jones took a third-down screen pass 71 yards for a touchdown.
Despite a 5-yard penalty for a false start, Mills connected on the extra-point attempt, and the Ravens’ lead expanded to 34-0.
Wake Christian got on the board when quarterback Tyler Renfroe hit Robert Houston on a screen pass and raced 48 yards for the score.
But Wake Christian missed the PAT, making the score 34-6.
Seeking to capitalize on their momentum, the Bulldogs called an onside kick and executed it to perfection. Garrett Wood recovered the ball for Wake Christian at the Ravenscroft 44-yard line.
But the Ravens' defense responded by pushing Wake Christian backwards with a relentless pass rush that produced two sacks.
Ravenscroft took over following the Wake Christian punt, but gave the ball right back when the Bulldogs recovered a fumble.
Fortunately for the Ravens, Bird took the ball right back when he intercepted Renfroe’s first-down pass, and returned it to the Wake Christian 45-yard line.
A screen pass from Billerman to Sloan turned into a 42-yard gain, setting up a 3-yard touchdown run by fullback Chase Douglas.
Mills tacked on the extra point, and the Ravens went into halftime with a 41-6 lead.
Ravenscroft kicked off to start the second half, and the defense forced a Wake Christian three-and-out.
Jones scored his second touchdown on a wide receiver screen, taking the ball 34-yards to the end zone.
The senior finished with three catches for 118 yards and two touchdowns.
On the ensuing drive, Renfroe got the Bulldogs within scoring distance with a 14-yard pass to Houston and a 16-yard quarterback keeper. Reece Thomas finished off the drive with a 9-yard touchdown run.
Thomas led the Bulldogs with 17 yards on the ground.
Ravenscroft answered on their next possession as Sloan's 30-yard reception set up Gonet's 7-yard touchdown run. The extra point made it 55-13.
Sloan led all receivers with 120 yards on three catches.
Ravenscroft scored its final points in the fourth quarter as Reid Scales pressured Wake Christian into a fumble which went out of the end zone resulting in a safety.
With the game winding down, Renfroe hit Thomas for a 35-yard touchdown, making the game 57-20.
“We just got to get back to work," Coach Ned Gonet said following the game. "We’ve got to be a lot more efficient. We took care of business tonight and got our second conference win, but our guys have to step up every game and play.”
The Ravens host North Raleigh Christian Friday, Oct. 19, at 7:30 p.m. Ravenscroft celebrates homecoming that night as well.
