ROSSVILLE—The North Murray Mountaineers squared off with the Ridgeland Panthers Friday in a first-ever meeting between the two schools. North Murray cruised to a 56-19 victory that featured 4 different Mountaineers with a rushing touchdown.

The game started off slow for Both offenses. North Murray’s first possession ended with a Ridgeland interception. Ridgeland’s first two possessions ended with turnovers. Late in the first, the Mountaineer offense began to Click. A North Murray drive led them down to the Ridgeland 2-yard line. Skyler Williams finished off the drive with a 2-yard rushing touchdown running behind fellow Sophomore Nate Rivera.

Nate Rivera #52 with a QB sack in the 1st quarter.

Ridgeland’s quarterback Ethan Waters put the Panthers on the board early in the second quarter with an 18-yard rushing TD. North Murray would retake the lead later that same quarter. A 30-yard Williams rush set up a 2-yard Seth Griffin touchdown rush.

The ensuing kickoff hit a Ridgeland player and bounced right back to kicker Jafet Cuenca. The Neers would take advantage of the extra possession. Big pass plays to Williams and Jadyn Rice set up a 9-yard Judson Petty touchdown rush to put North Murray up 21-7.

Seth Griffin#10 looking downfield to Jadyn Rice #7 and Skyler Williams#3

As time expired in the first half, Ridgeland quarterback Ethan Waters heaved a deep pass into the endzone that was hauled in by Ridgeland wide receiver William Tredy. The score cut the Mountaineers lead at the half to 21-13.

The second half opened with another Cuenca kick that was recovered by North Murray. Just as they did previously, the Mountaineers increased their lead with the extra chance. A few plays after the kick recovery, Judson Petty broke free for his second touchdown of the night. A 31-yard burst through the heart of the Ridgeland defense.

The Petty touchdown pushed the Mountaineer lead to 28-13. Jadyn Rice added a 39-yard touchdown rush of his own later in the third quarter. A Ridgeland fumble on the ensuing possession would set up a 39-yard Griffin to Williams touchdown pass to push the North Murray advantage to 42-13. On the Next North Murray drive, a long Jadyn Rice rush down to the Ridgeland 2-yard line set up Judson Petty’s third rushing touchdown of the night.

Ridgeland added an Ethan Waters touchdown pass to Darrian Burks before the end of the third quarter.
Seth Griffin would cap the scoring on the night with a 1-yard touchdown plunge that brought the game to its eventual final score of 56-19.

North Murray moves to 2-1 and will welcome Northwest Whitfield next Friday. Ridgeland falls to 0-2 and will travel to Heritage next Friday.

NM 7-14-28-7 –56

R   0-13-6-0  — 19

1st                                                                N-R

N- Skyler Williams 2yd rush                  7-0

2nd

R- Ethan Waters 18yd rush                     7-7

N- Seth Griffin 2yd rush                         14-7

N- Judson Petty 9yd rush                       21-7

R- William Tredy 36 yd pass/Waters  21-13

3rd

N- Petty 31 yd rush                                 28-13

N- Jadyn Rice 37 yd rush                      35-13

N- Williams 39yd pass/Griffin            42-13

N- Petty 2 yd rush                                   49-13

R-Darrian Burks 13yd pass/Waters    49-19

4th

N- Griffin 1 yd rush                                 56-19