Ravenscroft football
FILE PHOTO
Sophomore QB Quinn Billerman (12) hit Shane Bird on a 28-yard touchdown pass against Charlotte Country Day Friday, but the Ravens eventually fell 56-21.
Ravens dig hole, can't recover against Buccaneers
Ravenscroft football coach Ned Gonet had an honest explanation for why Friday's 56-21 loss at Charlotte Country Day should be easier to rebound from than the Ravens' two previous defeats.
It's because Ravenscroft never really threatened the Buccaneers, the coach reasoned.
"Those other two losses were tough to shake because we were within a touchdown in both those games," Gonet added. "For the most part, we were never in this ball game. This one will be easy to get through because the reality is, we just really weren't close."
After allowing Country Day to jump out early, taking its opening drive in for a touchdown. The Ravens showed a lot of poise on the road, responding with their own scoring drive two possessions later, capped by Quinn Billerman's 28-yard TD toss to Shane Bird.
But the Buccaneers thwarted any thoughts of a Ravenscroft rally on the road, scoring another touchdown in the first quarter, and four more in the second, taking a 42-7 lead into halftime.
In addition to the Buccaneers' high-powered offense, Ravenscroft was battling tough weather conditions — a steady rain came in the second quarter — and a handful of injuries, limiting the Ravens' ability to keep pace.
"We just couldn't stop their offense, and they have a lot of weapons," Gonet said. "They spread it around, and it was apparent they wanted to throw the ball against us. The weather and our injuries were a factor. But I don't want to take away the fact that Country Day played extremely well throughout the game and we didn't match up."
Facing a five-touchdown deficit, most teams might have folded up camp, but the Ravens fought on as Connor Gonet added a 2-yard TD run in the third and another short-yardage TD dash in the fourth.
While the Buccaneers' impressive first-half was too much to overcome, Ravenscroft's second half gave some much-needed optimism, according to Gonet.
"We were able to punch in a couple scores late, which was good for us," the coach said. "We drove the field well, and it gave us an emotional lift to play better that last half. I don't think the final score matches the true fashion of the game."
More specifically, it was the Ravens' ground game which gave the squad something to cheer about as Connor Gonet (22 carries for 80 yards) and Temple Sloan (8 carries for 119 yards) were dynamic rushing the ball.
"In the third and fourth quarter, we started mixing it up with Connor and Temple — giving them a dose of each — and that worked well," the coach added. "It took a little bit of the pressure off of Connor, who has been running the ball a lot for us."
Billerman finished 6 for 23 for 86 yards, two INTs and a touchdown.
Connor Gonet added three receptions for 26 yards, and Bird — who led the team in tackles with six — had two for 56.
"We knew we were going to have to go down there and do some things well," Ned Gonet said. "Unfortunately we weren't able to do that. And the biggest thing for us was that we dug a big hole early."
The Ravens look to rebound with Friday's home game against Fayetteville Christian School. Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m.
It is Ravenscroft's Big East Independent Conference opener, and the first of five straight league games.
Game statistics
Rushing — Temple Sloan, 8-119; Connor Gonet 22-80; Hartland Jones 2-20; Chase Douglas 1-4; Quinn Billerman 6-3.
Receiving — Connor Gonet 3-26; Shane Bird 2-56; Dan Land 1-4.
Passing — Quinn Billerman 6-23, 86.
