RIPON – The Ripon Christian Knights were fueled by a tough defense in a one-sided victory over Stone Ridge Christian at Stouffer Field on Friday.
With the exception of two big plays, Ripon Christian (3-0) held Stone Ridge Christian in check in the non-league affair, 42-14.
“We play the game hard but, at the same time, with respect,” said first-year varsity head coach Trey Ozenbaugh.
Ripon Christian also took advantage of numerous opportunities.
Junior running back Brian Sytsma was involved in most of the scoring. He tallied three rushing touchdowns, caught another, and threw for one more. Sytsma finished with a game-high 75 yards on 13 carries.
Ozenbaugh, meanwhile, credited his defensive coordinator Eddie Erdelatz for having the squad ready for the ball-control running schemes by Stone Ridge (2-1). Leading the way were the likes of Kevin Kramer, Conner McGovern, Jared Stuit, Sean Legros, and Will Kamps, to name a few.
Ripon Christian wasted little time scoring, going 63 yards on 10 plays on its opening possession. Sytsma capped off the drive with a 6-yard run.
On the ensuing possession, Stone Ridge was unable to advance the ball past its own 30, turning the ball over on downs.
From there, Ripon Christian needed only four plays to make it 14-0. Sytsma scored again, this one a 1-yard run.
Stone Ridge made it a game early in the second quarter when Joseph Amaral hauled in a 28-yard pass from quarterback Luke Lange to cut the lead to 14-7.
After that, Ripon Christian pulled away.
First, the offense overcame several penalties on a second-quarter touchdown. On third-and-long from the 46, Sytsma turned a short pass from Marr at the Stone Ridge 46 into a catch-and-run touchdown. On that big play, Ozenbaugh credited his front line, under the direction of assistant coach Bill Camp.
Derek Dotinga followed it up by recovering a fumble.
Stuit hauled in a 16-yard touchdown on the option-pass play from Sytsma on fourth and 16, making it 28-7.
RC kept it going, adding another score on Jonah Lewis’ 19-yard touchdown catch from Marr, who completed 11 of his 18 passes for 168 yards.
RC closed out the scoring in the third quarter as Sytsma once again scored on a short run. But it was Lewis’ sparkling catch that set up the 1-yard touchdown run.
Lewis and the defender were battling it out for a pass just outside the end zone. He finally came up with the ball on the carom.
Ozenbaugh has been thrilled with the performance of his junior-laden group of 20 players.
“There’s not a whole bunch of us,” he said. “But I like the quality of players (on the team).”
