Defense steps up for Ridgefield in 28-0 playoff win over Aberdeen

RIDGEFIELD — The bad news for the Ridgefield football team Saturday is the Spudders didn’t play their best offensive game.

The good news was they didn’t need to with the way the defense performed.

Ridgefield’s defense recorded its fourth shutout of the year, seventh since last season, as the Spudders clinched a berth in the 2A state playoffs with a 28-0 win over Aberdeen in a 2A district playoff on Saturday.

“We knew it was going to be a dogfight,” linebacker Wyatt Bartroff said. “We knew we needed to set the tone and be the ones that bring the spark of energy to the team and not get ran through, letting them get 10 yards each play.”

On offense, the Spudders (10-0) weren’t their normal explosive selves. Quarterback Logan DeBeaumont only completed 4 of his first 14 passes for 24 yards, and receivers dropped several balls on the cold and wet night.

“We’ve gotten really lucky this year, playing a lot of dry of games,” Ridgefield coach Scott Rice said. “The first half especially we looked like we haven’t played in the rain all year.”

But DeBeamont did complete two touchdown passes to Ty Snider to give Ridgefield 14-0 lead in the first half.

And that was more than enough with the way the defense was playing.

Aberdeen was held to 68 yards of offense until driving 57 yards in the second half. It was the Bobcats first penetration into Ridgefield territory. But the drive was stopped by a sack by Matt Lewis at the Spudders 28.

“Defense had a great plan — the D-line and backers,” Rice said. “We knew they were going to be run-first team. … If we can make them throw the ball, that will be a game changer for us. Luckily, the defense stepped up.”

Key players

Isaiah Cowley, Ridgefield. The junior caught seven passes for 71 yards, rushed for 25 yards and had an interception of defense.

The defense as a unit. Bartroff had several big tackles, the sack by Lewis, Cowley’s interception and Matt Kinswa recovered a fumble.

Key moments

On the opening drive of the game, Davis Pankow rushed for 18 yards down to the Aberdeen 24 on fourth-and-1.

On third-and-15, Cowley took a short pass and raced 40 yards to the Aberdeen 18, setting up the Spudders’ third touchdown in the third quarter.

Quotable

“That would be amazing for what this program has become and showing that we are a top team in the state. We deserve to host playoff game after playoff game, and I would be super excited to play a home game,” Bartroff on waiting to see where the Spudders are seeded in the state bracket. Seeds and pairing will be announced at 1 p.m. Sunday.

RIDGEFIELD 28, ABERDEEN 0

Aberdeen 0 0 0 0—0

Ridgefield 7 7 7 7—28

First quarter

R — Ty Snider 12 pass from Logan DeBeaumont (Giuseppe Gagliardi kick)

Second quarter

R — Snider 12 pass from DeBeaumont (Gagliardi kick)

Third quarter

R — Jakob Braunstein 18 pass from DeBeaumont (Gagliardi kick)

Fourth quarter

R — Davis Pankow 6 run (Gagliardi kick)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — Aberdeen: Jeremy Sawyer 20-48, Jacob Bowers 8-24, Trey Anderson 7-25, Grady Springer 1-2, Kale Goings 9-17, Liam Hiekkila 2-4. Ridgefield: Pankow 11-40, Connor Delamarter 2-4, Snider 1-(-3), Isaiah Cowley 6-25, DeBeaumont 1-(-4).

PASSING — Aberdeen: Goings 5-7-1-21. Ridgefield: DeBeaumont 12-26-1-143, Snider 1-1-0-67.

RECEIVING — Aberdeen: Isiah Watson 2-19, Sawyer 2-3, Bowers 1-(1). Ridgefield: Cowley 7-71, Snider 3-30, Ryan Jenkins 1-24, Braunstein 2-85.