Something to talk about
Ringgold’s Jake Gerard, right, breaks up a pass to Hampton’s Gus Schmitt in the end zone on a fourth down in the second quarter of Friday’s WPIAL Class AAA quarterfinal at West Allegheny.
Ringgold quarterback Nico Law fumbles after being hit by Hampton’s Nate Hyre in the first quarter Friday night.
IMPERIAL – It will be a game Ringgold High School football fans will talk about for some time.
A comeback to tie the game in regulation, a dramatic stop on a two-point try in the first overtime, and a victory secured in the WPIAL Class AAA playoffs.
Does it get any better than that?
Ringgold scored in the first overtime, gave up a touchdown on the first play to Hampton, then stopped Matt Rech one-yard shy of the end zone on the two-point conversion try to take a 21-20 in the quarterfinals at West Allegheny High School Friday night.
Ringgold (10-1) will play Central Valley next week at a site and date to be determined in a WPIAL Class AAA semifinal game.
“That was a championship-caliber football team out there,” Ringgold head coach Nick Milchovich said of Hampton. “He believed in his team. Neither team deserved to lose this game.”
Ringgold got the ball first in the overtime and scored in two plays when quarterback Nico Law went in from three yards out to make it 21-14 following a successful PAT. Law finished with 105 yards on 19 carries. Josh Briscoe made the extra-point kick.
Hampton needed only one play, a 10-yard run by Rech to score and bring the Talbots to within one point. Ringgold called timeout, sensing something might be up for the conversion.
“They were trying to call timeout,” Milchovich said. “I wasn’t sure (they were going for two), but I was expecting it.”
Rech took the handoff and Law put the hit on him that stopped him at the one, setting off a celebration on the field by the Rams players and coaches.
“Once we scored, I wanted to go for two,” said Hampton head coach Jacque DeMatteo. “We wanted to end it right there. They have so many talented players. We didn’t want to put the ball back in their hands. We ran a play that was our bread and butter. It was the same play we scored the touchdown on.”
To get to overtime, Ringgold had to rally from a 14-7 deficit. The Rams also scored twice in order to tie the game. Law drove the Rams down the field following a punt by Hampton that was nearly blocked in the end zone after a bad snap but still rolled to the Hampton 44.
Law hit Mayson Atkinson with a 10-yard touchdown pass that was called back because Ringgold had an ineligible man downfield. Four plays later, Law went over from the one with 38 seconds left in regulation.
It was sweet redemption for Law, who mishandled a bad snap from center that was recovered by Shane McMillen and returned 43 yards for a Hampton touchdown that tied the game, 7-7, with 1:38 left in the third quarter.
“I have never seen a game like this in my life,” said Law. “Coach Milchovich always said that big players make big plays.”
Ringgold took a 7-0 in the third quarter one play after Law left with an injury. Sophomore George Martin came in and threw a 23-yard touchdown pass to Dalton Holt.
“We have complete confidence in him,” said Milchovich. “He’s been great on our JV team.”
Hampton went up 14-7 when Gus Schmitt made a great catch on an ugly pass from Nick Grabowski that covered 52 yards. Grabowski’s pass hung in the air and lcould have been intercepted, but Schmitt outfought the defender. Schmitt had a great night on defense, too, intercepting three Law passes.
The Rams’ Chacar Berry was not at 100 percent because of an ankle injury but tried to play. He had 25 yards on 10 carries.
Ringgold had trouble moving the ball in a scoreless first half, running 17 plays for 57 yards and turning the ball over three times. But Hampton didn’t take advantage thanks to a Ringgold defense that came up with three fourth-down stops.
“I am so proud of these kids,” Milchovich said. “They went through a lot of adversity but they kept on fighting.”