2A GSHL football: Ridgefield 24, R.A. Long 22

After recovering an onside kick attempt with less than a minute to play, R.A. Long continued to threaten to add to its 20-0 run when quarterback Owen Enriquez found Riley Opengrande with single coverage 40 yards deep in the endzone.

But thankfully, Ridgefield senior defensive back Conner Bell was ready and waiting to outmuscle Opengrande for a deep pass attempt that hit both players hands only to fall to the endzone ground, simultaneously keeping the Spudders’ playoff hopes alive.

“I had to stop that ball,” Bell acknowledged. “I can’t let it go into another person’s hands.”

The Spudders jumped out to a 24-2 lead thanks to Jalen Williams’ play on both sides of the ball. The senior fullback/linebacker led the offense with his fourth straight 100-yard rushing game.

On the defensive side, Williams added a fumble recovery before teaming with fellow linebacker Tamarick Mendoza to stop the Lumberjacks cold on a potential game-tying 2-point conversion run attempt in the waning minutes of the game.

“One of the most valuable players by far,” Bell said of Williams’ efforts this season.

Bell added an interception while leading the Spudders in receiving yards.

RIDGEFIELD 24, R.A. LONG 22

R.A. Long 2 0 7 13–22

Ridgefield 0 10 14 0–24

First quarter

RAL — safety, Punt snap goes through endzone

Second quarter

R — Joseph Vossenkuhl 27 FG

R — Jalen Williams 10 run (Vossenkuhl kick)

Third quarter

R — Jacob McCarthy 1 run (Vossenkuhl kick)

R — Riley Abrams 6 run (Vossenkuhl kick)

RAL — Ethan Sterkel 32 pass from Owen Enriquez (Justin Holmdahl kick)

Fourth quarter

RAL — Tyrick Lewis-Clark 33 pass from Enriquez (Holmdahl kick)

RA — Riley Opgrande 6 pass from Enriquez (run failed)

Individual statistics

RUSHING — Ridgefield: Williams 24-131, Ri Abrams 5-42, Jeremy Martin 3-23, McCarthy 3-8, Hunter Abrams 1-8.

PASSING — Ridgefield: Dawson Lieurance 10-15-0-108.

RECEIVING – Ridgefield: Conner Bell 2-44, Williams 1-19, Jeremy Martin 3-19, Andrew Rommel 1-14, Brock Harrison 1-10, Ri Abrams 2-1.