WHAT WE SAW: Ridge View 40, Irmo 37 OT

Chris Dearing October 8, 2022 @ 08:26 AM

IRMO | Playmakers were on display Friday night at W.C. Hawkins Stadium and it was Ridge View that ended up with just enough in a thrilling 40-37 overtime victory over Irmo.   [player_tooltip player_id='262703' first='Marcus' last='Kelly'] scored on a 10-yard run in the extra period to help the Blazers overcome a 10-point fourth quarter deficit.   “Overtime is all about playmakers,” Ridge View coach Derek Howard said. “You put the ball in the hands of the best players that you have. The first thing we thought was let's get [player_tooltip player_id='262703' first='Marcus' last='Kelly'] on the edge.”   Kelly didn't have his best statistical game of the season but the trio of Donald Tomlin, [player_tooltip player_id='202731' first='Adonis' last='McDaniel'] and [player_tooltip player_id='202775' first='Zion' last='Agnew'] more than made up for it. Tomlin was 20-of-22 for 237 yards and three touchdowns. McDaniel caught seven of those passes for 147 yards and an 11-yard TD reception. McDaniel also added an 80-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Agnew, an East Carolina commitment, saved his best for last, scoring two fourth quarter touchdowns as part of his five-catch, 60-yard effort.   “I just say the other team can't guard my guys,” Tomlin said. “I know I can throw it far and put it where they are. My guys are going to beat them. Honestly, that game is more fun than blowing a team out.”   Irmo answered the Blazers' effort with the three-person attack of [player_tooltip player_id='272713' first='AJ' last='Brand'], Erick Tucker and [player_tooltip player_id='1142759' first='Caleb' last='Alexander']. Brand seems to be fully recovered from an ankle injury that sidelined him earlier in the year. He finished 8-of-13 for 178 yards and two touchdown passes and he added 74 yards on the ground and touchdown runs of 22 and 1 yards.   Tucker didn't reach the end zone, but he still powered his way to 149 yards rushing on 22 carries. Tucker runs tough between the tackles and does not shy away from contact. Alexander caught five passes for 88 yards and a 16-yard TD. Anton Jones caught Brand's other touchdown pass when he broke free for a 39-yard score.   Irmo led 31-21 at the start of the fourth quarter but the Blazers blocked a punt to set the stage for the comeback. Tomlin and Agnew struck on the first play after the block on a 38-yard score. Tomlin hit Agnew on a bubble screen and he outran the defense into the corner of the end zone to make it 31-28 with 10:48 remaining.   Irmo (4-3, 0-2) was able to run 7:41 off the clock and settled for a 28-yard Jose Villanueva field goal to make it 34-28 with 3:07 remaining.   Ridge View (6-1, 2-0) embarked on a 10-play, 65-yard drive that ended with a 3-yard TD pass from Tomlin to Agnew with 26 seconds remaining. The Blazers had an opportunity to win it in regulation, but the extra point attempt was wide right.   “We're resilient,” Howard said. “I tip my hat to Zion, Adonis and Donald and all those guys on the offensive line for making plays and putting us in situations where we were able to win the game at the end.”

IRMO | Playmakers were on display Friday night at W.C. Hawkins Stadium and it was Ridge View that ended up with just enough in a thrilling 40-37 overtime victory over Irmo.