RIPON — Coming off a blowout loss to Bradshaw Christian in which the Knights surrendered huge yards on the ground, Ripon Christian entered Stouffer Field Saturday night determined not to let it happen again.
Mission accomplished.
While Waterford back-up quarterback Phillip Tubera winged it all over the field for 189 yards, the Wildcats’ run game was stuffed, and the Knights took advantage in a 43-12 drubbing.
Following Tyler Voogd’s first-quarter touchdown plunge, Waterford threatened to tie it deep in RC’s zone.
Clayton Prins quickly put an end to the threat with the first of two interceptions he would collect on the night.
The play set the tone for the rest of the evening.
Isaac Norman ran wild on Waterford, turning in touchdown runs of 17 and 19 to finish with 114 yards on the ground.
Fullback Josiah Neeley racked up 72 yards on the ground, Voogd added 75 more, and Nathan Hidalgo took over in the second half to finish with 51 yards and a pair of scores (six, five).
“Tyler really played well,” RC head coach John Vander Schaaf said. “He read the veer very well, and both Nathan and Josiah were the benefactors.
“Nathan has really put in the effort, and I was glad to see that the work has paid off.”
Vander Schaaf was also pleased with Norman, who has picked up right where Will Heersink left off a season ago.
“Isaac is a good, smart runner who is as fast and as talented as can be,” he said. “It’s really interesting to see him develop as a runner.”
No Knights victory would be complete, however, without Neeley imposing his will on the defensive end, and that’s exactly what he did Saturday night.
One of Neeley’s 10 tackles came on a stunt in which the linebacker met a Waterford runner a yard beyond the line of scrimmage.
The play ended five yards in the backfield.
“Josiah topped himself on that one,” Vander Schaaf said. “He hit the kid so hard his helmet popped off.
“We were hitting people tonight.”
Aaron Fay and Landon Tillema finished with 10 tackles apiece.
Ripon Christian (2-1 overall) heads to Denair Friday.
Mission accomplished.
While Waterford back-up quarterback Phillip Tubera winged it all over the field for 189 yards, the Wildcats’ run game was stuffed, and the Knights took advantage in a 43-12 drubbing.
Following Tyler Voogd’s first-quarter touchdown plunge, Waterford threatened to tie it deep in RC’s zone.
Clayton Prins quickly put an end to the threat with the first of two interceptions he would collect on the night.
The play set the tone for the rest of the evening.
Isaac Norman ran wild on Waterford, turning in touchdown runs of 17 and 19 to finish with 114 yards on the ground.
Fullback Josiah Neeley racked up 72 yards on the ground, Voogd added 75 more, and Nathan Hidalgo took over in the second half to finish with 51 yards and a pair of scores (six, five).
“Tyler really played well,” RC head coach John Vander Schaaf said. “He read the veer very well, and both Nathan and Josiah were the benefactors.
“Nathan has really put in the effort, and I was glad to see that the work has paid off.”
Vander Schaaf was also pleased with Norman, who has picked up right where Will Heersink left off a season ago.
“Isaac is a good, smart runner who is as fast and as talented as can be,” he said. “It’s really interesting to see him develop as a runner.”
No Knights victory would be complete, however, without Neeley imposing his will on the defensive end, and that’s exactly what he did Saturday night.
One of Neeley’s 10 tackles came on a stunt in which the linebacker met a Waterford runner a yard beyond the line of scrimmage.
The play ended five yards in the backfield.
“Josiah topped himself on that one,” Vander Schaaf said. “He hit the kid so hard his helmet popped off.
“We were hitting people tonight.”
Aaron Fay and Landon Tillema finished with 10 tackles apiece.
Ripon Christian (2-1 overall) heads to Denair Friday.
— Brandon Petersen
