Ridgeland 28, Marist 27
By David Purdum / For the AJC
Rossville — The Ridgeland Panthers are headed to the Georgia Dome for the first time in school history, thanks to a blocked extra point and a trick-play touchdown with 36 seconds to play.
Darrell Bridges hit Shaqualm McCoy on a 24-yard half-back pass, and Marist’s potential game-winning field goal hit the right upright as time expired, giving Ridgeland a thrilling 28-27 win in a Class AAAA state semifinal game Friday.
Bridges, a converted quarterback, threw two touchdown passes and ran for two more, including an 89-yard sprint up the middle that tied the score, 21-21, with 8:21 to play. Bridges finished with 164 yards on the ground and 107 yards passing.
Marist answered with a long scoring drive, converting on a 4th-and-5 and regaining the lead on Myles Willis 26-yard touchdown run with three minutes to play.
Ridgeland’s Sharone Porter blocked the ensuing extra point, though, keeping Marist’s lead at 27-21 with three minutes to play. It would prove costly for the War Eagles.
Ridgeland drove 77 yards in 11 plays, taking advantage of a pass interference penalty and converting on a fourth down, before Bridges took a pitch from quarterback Trevor Long and found McCoy for the winning touchdown.
Marist quickly moved into field-goal position and was at the Ridgeland 17 with 5.6 seconds left. Fletcher Malloy’s 34-yard attempt had the distance, but glanced off the right upright, sending Ridgeland (13-1) to the AAAA championship game.
Griffin King scored two touchdowns for the War Eagles (12-1), who didn’t trail until Ridgeland’s Evan Courtney drilled the final extra point.
Marist tight end Greg Taboada caught a 29-yard touchdown pass from Willis in the first quarter. Marist led 14-7 at halftime.
Vonn Bell, Ridgeland’s talented two-way star, caught a 57-yard touchdown pass from Bridges in third quarter and finished with 127 total yards.
“I can’t tell you how much this means to me and this community,” said Bell, a senior. “It means everything.”
Marist 7 7 0 13 – 27
Ridgeland 7 7 7 7 – 28
1st
M – Greg Taboada 29 pass from Myles Willis (Thomas Andrews kick) 7-0
R – Darrell Bridges 2 run (Evan Courtney kick)
2nd
M – Griffin King 16 run (Andrews kick) 7:12
3rd
R – Vonn Bell 57 pass from Bridges (Courtney kick)
4th
M – King 3 run (Andrews kick) 9:05
R – Bridges 89 run (Courtney kick) 8:28 21-21
M – Willis 26 run (kick blocked)
R –Shaqualm McCoy 24 pass from Bridges (Courtney kick)
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
99 comments Add your comment
Marist Fan GHSA hater
December 8th, 2012
2:15 pm
Marist had chances to win, should have won, still at the end could have won – but I blame the GHSA for their ludicrous “coin flip” rules. This game should have been held at Marist. Making the #2 ranked team in the state have to travel out of town 2 straight weeks because they lose the flip of a coin is wrong. This is why they moved the finals to the Dome, because it would be wrong for the top ranked team to have to travel and play an away game for the Championship.
Dudeburger
December 8th, 2012
2:23 pm
Marist gets an extra point blocked or missed, and hits the goal post on what would have been the winning score, and that makes Ridgeland the better team? This logic comes from where?
RHS WINS!
December 8th, 2012
2:36 pm
None of Ridgeland’s field goals were blocked or missed…. just sayin….
RHS WINS!
December 8th, 2012
2:39 pm
The scoreboard is the final judge and as my name says, RHS WINS!!!!!
Dudeburger
December 8th, 2012
3:01 pm
So, RHS wins because of the goal post….not the scoreboard…..See y’all next year?…. “just sayin”………
RHS WINS!
December 8th, 2012
3:17 pm
Pretty much. The ball has to go THROUGH the goal post to count. I didn’t make the rules, but I don’t cry when they are followed. JUST SAYIN!
FrmrMaristPlyr
December 8th, 2012
3:54 pm
Marist dad….please stop. I played football at Marist in the 90’s, and your comments about the game are sour. The “classy” thing to do is say “congrats” to Ridgleand and move on, To start your comment by questioning whether the best team won is weak.
FINAL SCORE
December 8th, 2012
4:28 pm
Lot’s of creative excuses from the Marist side. If Marist is so good, why are you needing to kick a last second field goal to win? Maybe it’s just that God didn’t let y’all win because somebody forgot to go to confession…. HAHA. Marist had a good team and has a great football tradition, but their fan base usually overrates themselves and then some of them always cry. FrmrMaristPlyr is right! Some of y’all make the rest of y’all look like FOOLS. Thanks MaristBoy!!
The rules are the rules. Coin flips are the only fair way to do it, unless you want to do rock, paper, scissors. What made Marist #2? They were playing #1 seeds. Who’s to say which region is better and who’s schedule was tougher? Unless the teams play the same schedule including head-to-head there is no way to know who is better unless they line up and play. Looks to me like Ridgeland is better. Just look at the FINAL SCORE.
hornblowermg
December 8th, 2012
5:04 pm
28-27. Ridgeland still wins. imagine that?
Dudeburger
December 8th, 2012
5:04 pm
“just sayin”………yes, I do understand the rules of the game. I do congratulate your team, and their achievement. I also have to applaud the Marist team for winning on the road last week, and should have won last night.It is a known fact that winning on the road is very difficult, as any team’s road record can attest.
I am just stating that Ridgeland was not better, just lucky.
HSFootballFan
December 8th, 2012
5:11 pm
Way to represent your program MaristDad. Marist and Ridgeland both played their hearts out and left everything on the field. Blaming officiating, GHSA, and demeaning Ridgeland and its players just shows a lack of class and poor sportsmanship. Both teams put their best product on the field and Ridgeland came out on top. What you’ve done in the past doesn’t entitle you to anything today. This is why they play the game.
I was at the game and it was the best high school football game I’ve ever seen. I would suggest sucking up your pride and arrogance since you are a PARENT and help your kids celebrate a great season and be a positive example.
By the way, others from your program have shown the same lack of class so you aren’t alone. Marist Cheerleader to Ridgeland students: “You’re still poor”. Marist announcers: “The good guys lost and Ridgeland won.”
No one likes to lose. It is a horrible feeling to lose, especially the way Marist lost last night. However, you can get a good look at someone’s character in how they handle a loss. Fortunately, your kids handled it much better than you have.
HSFootballFan
December 8th, 2012
5:17 pm
Dudeburger… So, if Marist had made the field goal, would that make them better or just lucky?
Dudeburger
December 8th, 2012
5:31 pm
it would have made them a better team through their achievement, not a better team though another team’s misfortune. The fact of the matter is this; since neither you nor I were in uniform and playing, let’s just congratulate both the teams for a wonderful and hard fought contest.
Hamlton
December 8th, 2012
5:32 pm
@Marist Fan GHSA hater-
The coin flip is the correct way to do it, thus viewing all #1 seeds as equal. Teams cannot control which region they are placed in. They can control non-region games, and as long as those don’t count negatively against them they will schedule tough and creative match-ups. Some undefeated teams don’t face real tough competition until the playoffs. Some region champs have a loss or two from being in the toughest regions in the state. You should know that from years in 6AAAA.
As for playing an away game – it was two hours away – not like you had to go to Savannah.
Congrats to Ridgeland and good luck.
HSFootballFan
December 8th, 2012
5:35 pm
Dudeburger…. Agreed. Here’s to hoping you can take your own advice.
Dudeburger
December 8th, 2012
6:28 pm
That’s what I did; I was just trying to educate “RHS WINS.” I can simplify it for your understanding if you would like. I am not the author of the coin flip argument, so don’t know how you got into the dialog.Marist did an outstanding job playing as a visitor. Not sure if either Marist or Ridgeland would have or will darken the end zone verses Sandy Creek, but I will be there to see.
FINAL SCORE
December 8th, 2012
6:55 pm
Hey Dudebugger – it wasn’t luck the kid blocked the extra point. It wasn’t fate either. This was a case of one team being just a little bit better than the other. Ridgeland’s kids made more plays with the game on the line and the pressure mounting. The better team won because their Oline blocked a little better and their backs ran a little harder and they didn’t make any major mistakes. One well coached team played just a little bit better than the other well coached team. Since we know Marist is very good – we must also know Ridgeland is very, very good. The game wasn’t won or lost on a missed 34 yd. field goal…… It was won with a 2 and a half minute drive with the season on the line and a gutsy play call executed by a bunch of kids!!! Luck my Fat Fanny!!! See y’all at the DOME!!!! B-a-b-y!!!!
FINAL SCORE
December 8th, 2012
7:03 pm
And I think MaristBoy has finally sobered up and put his laptop back in the briefcase. His ex-wife is expecting the kids back home soon.
Me? I’m a trophy husband. No work and all play!!!!! Not a bad deal if you can get it.
Hairy
December 8th, 2012
7:50 pm
Tucker regulary kicked Marist around the county and they thanked their lucky stars they didn’t have to be beat up by them again this year. Looks like Ridgeland is Marist new daddy. Kind of like Thomas County Central was many years ago in the state playoffs. Cry us another river sore Marist losers!!
FINAL SCORE
December 8th, 2012
8:38 pm
@Hairy – but they’re rich and we’re still poor!!! LOL
Marist Alum
December 8th, 2012
8:55 pm
Come on guys, this is not Marist behavior. What do you think Chadwick and Father Konzen would say if they saw some of these comments? Ridgeland people, please know that most of these comments and the alleged insult from the Marist cheerleader are not representative of the Marist community. I hope you won’t judge all of us based on the conduct of a few people.
While the officiating was objectively terrible, it didn’t end up deciding the outcome of the game. We had our chance to win it, and we came up short. As for the “better team” argument: it’s a waste of time and it’s irrelevant. As Lou Holtz likes to say, you don’t have to the best team in the country, the conference, or the state. You only have to be the best team in the stadium for one night. Last night, Ridgeland was the better team by one inch.
It makes me sick to see this senior class go out the way they did, but this Marist team had more heart than any football team I’ve ever seen. Despite playing a brutal 5 OT game in the second round and later losing one of their leaders and best players, they still came within an inch of playing for the state championship. Once the sting of defeat wears off, they should be proud of their effort.
Congratulations, Ridgeland. I got to play in the Dome my senior year at Marist, and it was an incredible experience. Good luck next week.
Dudeburger
December 8th, 2012
9:34 pm
I don’t even go to Marist…i stir the same stuff up every year. It is refreshing to see that I can still get the winning opponent to show their back side in public. NTW…y’all will be one and done this year while Marist will continue to make the playoffs every year like they have since 1983. I really don’t care about football, but it’s fun to see how macho people can be electronically, when they are probably so meek in real life.
HSFootballFan
December 9th, 2012
8:19 am
Doucheburger… So you’re really just a troll. LOL, you should get out of your mom’s basement and experience life rather than living vicariously through others experiences.
TOONAVILLE
December 9th, 2012
8:26 am
Great job Ridgeland,our former rival.GOOD LUCK IN THE DOME!!!
Dudeburger
December 9th, 2012
9:35 am
HSFootballFan…..same 2 u. It’s always fun 2 c what db’s people can be that probably never made the cut for their football teams, and try 2 live through a group of kids. At least I admit my hoax….what is y’alls story????
HSFootballFan
December 9th, 2012
10:11 am
4 kids who go to Ridgeland is mine. Love that school and respect the program Marist has as well. Great group of kids. Take care douchebag. Looks like you’ll need to find another bandwagon to jump on. Let me guess, you’re a Sandy Creek fan now. Brad Paisley wrote a song about you. It’s called Online. You should check it out. I’m sure you can relate.
Dudeburger
December 9th, 2012
10:15 am
So what position did you play on the football team????? Either 1) you never played or 2) Place kicker????. Damn sure wasn’t English teacher. “4 kids who go to Ridgeland is mine.”
YELLERJACKETZ1
December 9th, 2012
10:43 am
PANTHERS IT LOOKS LIKE UR GONNA HAVE SOME JACKET FANS FROM CALHOUN ON UR SIDELINES SATURDAY STICKIN ROUND TO ROOT YALL ON ! GOOD LUCK TO ALL THE TEAMS THAT MADE IT TO THE FINALS ! CALHOUN ROCKS !!!!!!
Doucheburger jr
December 9th, 2012
2:30 pm
Douchedurger you are an IDIOT “Damn sure wasn’t English teacher.” How can you possibly insult someone else’s English.
getbigfast
December 9th, 2012
3:40 pm
After reading Marist ppl complain about calls I can’t figure what your talking about. 2 holding calls where Marist actually tackles our guys.. they Rly were holds. The pass interference call was a great call. If you don’t think so look it up online and watch it for yourself.. It isn’t that close so your complaining is stupid. The fact that we got a equipment timeout was because Bell was trying to get his shoe on. Its a rule that if you have an equipment problem the ref gives you time. They didn’t see it so we called time. Then the ref realized it and waved off our time out. That’s the way it is suppose to be. Our so called trick plays Rly aren’t that trick if Marist would have done there homework. We’ve only ran a halfback pass 25 times in a year and a half. The missed field goal at the end was believed to be tipped by #2 Ronnie Porter. Again watch the video and the ball changes direction.
winlosemom
December 9th, 2012
4:30 pm
Marist people you should be ashamed of yourselves!!!! Wow…for bring so traditional….you are the biggest poor sports I have ever seen !!! There is one winner and one loser at the end of the game, according to the scoreboard. How it happens, whether it be mistakes made, not showing up to play, what have you…..there is ONE winner. As a mom of a player, my heart went out to your team, they showed up, played, and Im sorry, they lost , right down to the wire. But for you and your representatives to put down this group of young men…I think you all need to go back to bible study class, and learn graciousness.
Panther4Life
December 9th, 2012
4:44 pm
Sad to see so much negative on here…It was a damn good game and those kids from both sides played their heart out! Marist is a good ball club and they earned my respect…however, Marist was introduced to North Georgia Smash Mouth football. Accept your defeat and move on Marist! You are now behind us!!! GO PANTHERS!
oldeagle
December 9th, 2012
5:00 pm
Congrats to Ridgeland…who cares what the Marist fans have too say.
oldeagle
December 9th, 2012
5:02 pm
BTW…what happend to that great Marist d we were told about…hold RHS to 50 yds rushing….NOT
WHATS THE EXCUSE FOR THAT
baldeagle
December 9th, 2012
6:25 pm
Hey oldeagle! The excuse for Ridgeland running all over Marist is their Dlive was so OVERRATED. #87 was the real deal, but the others were manhandled and abused. If they played again this Friday their dline would still be overrated and Ridgeland would win again!
WarEagle
December 9th, 2012
7:39 pm
Said it before, will say it again, congrats to Ridgeland, the team earned the win.
99% of Marist fans are taking this disappointing loss with class. 99% of the Ridgeland fans are celebrating this exciting win with class. The vocal 1% on both sides who are being sore losers or poor winners are the minority and don’t represent our communities. Let’s not judge each other by these minority voices. Good luck to Ridgeland on Saturday.
Dudeburger
December 9th, 2012
8:20 pm
The 1% on each side are nor affiliated to Marist or RHS…they are impostors/agitators. Half of the major college fans never darkened the doorway of the respective universities in a similar vein. On my behalf, I have no link to Marist in any way or form…I just like to stir things up. I would imagine that the other “haters” on he RHS side are the same as me. I do this every year just to see tacky human behavior, and apologize every year, so please accept my apology again for this year.
GTVET
December 9th, 2012
10:45 pm
WOW….Marist folk sure are upset about that. Big L aren’t they……Dosent matter how many years your team has played for a Championship.What matters most is who won this time..Looks like Ridgeland was the best team from here.I’m a Calhoun grad and fan.Ridgeland came to Calhoun and with a play here or there would have beat Calhoun.What I’m most amazed about is that Marist played Ridgeland that close.I would bet rematch would have Ridgeland winning by at least ten.Act like grownups Marist and just be glad you didn’t get thumped big time.See ya in the Dome Ridgeland and good luck.Calhoun area will be cheering for ya…..GO JACKETS!!!!!!!
GTVET
December 9th, 2012
10:57 pm
@Dudegirl uhmmm , I mean burger..no one cares what you say anyway so ,go to bed before your mommy grounds you.
Jim Mora, Sr
December 10th, 2012
9:30 am
Congrats to RHS- I used to live 5 miles from there when Ridgeland was routinely going 1-9. Great to see a good Christian coach and his team overcome the politics from early in the season. I take it Marist didn’t get to bring their refs like they did against Stockbridge. I was at that game and knew before the opening kikck-off we were in trouble when I saw an all white officiating crew with a wealthy private school from North Atlanta! The penalties reflected that throughout the game. By the way, I’m white. Go Panthers!
shepherd
December 10th, 2012
9:56 am
Marist played well, as expected. However, as to who is more deserving to go to the big game I would have to give it to Ridgeland. 8 years ago they were only winning a couple of games per season. I find it more impressive to see Ridgeland make it this far than a team that is loaded with talent every year. Having to fight for something, and not having it handed to you, gave Ridgeland an edge on Friday. I do hope the kicker for Marist doesn’t take the loss too hard. It takes a team to win or lose. Also, having been at the game I will agree that the Marist fans were not obnoxious like some of those represented here.
Huh?
December 10th, 2012
10:35 am
@Jim Mora Sr. — don’t be an idiot — it is insulting to the hard-working refs around the state to suggest their skin color dictates their calls on the field. BTW, if you listen closely,you can still hear Stockbridge’s awful announcer yelling his crazy play by play!
Dudeburger
December 10th, 2012
11:15 am
To Jim Mora. Sr….to speak about a Christian coach, and then play the race card in the same blog….wow.
NDekalb Observer
December 10th, 2012
12:03 pm
Marist folks have quit reading this blog they are using this week to get a jump on Buford and St Pius forks in recuirting
ShadowCat
December 10th, 2012
12:13 pm
Should these two teams have even been playing each other?? Unless I am mistaken, Marist is a private school that shops all around Atlanta for the best players and brings them in to fill key or specific positions. How much does it cost for a student to attend Marist? Does Marist offer athletic scholarships, or do they just do the typical underhanded thing of tuition forgiveness?? How much is it costing the Marist quarterbacks family for him to attend school? I would venture to say ZERO! Doesn’t it piss all the other families off that they are paying full price, while some get to go for free?? In a nutshell, with what Marist has to work with, it is inexcusable that they should ever lose a regular season game…and for them NOT to be deep in the playoffs every year is a joke. Private schools have no place in the public school playoffs!! BTW, Marist might want to go out and recruit a damn kicker! I hear there are several out there lookin for that free Catholic education!!
rwdekalb
December 10th, 2012
12:23 pm
@Marist Alum. I agree, I think this Marist team had a tremendous amount of heart. Some incredible gutsy wins in postseason.
rwdekalb
December 10th, 2012
12:25 pm
Never heard of Ridgeland but looking forward to seeing them play in the dome. You guys must have an awesome team this year.
One Tiger's View
December 10th, 2012
4:22 pm
@shadowcat — Yes, you are mistaken. But of course, the only teams that possibly recruit are the private schools — those public schools never recruit — what a joke! At least Marist chooses to play up two classes from its AA size. And NO, I am not a Marist fan; but having watched them over the years in Region 6-AAAA (until this year), I really respect their program.
bueller
December 14th, 2012
9:44 am
g