Torrez Headlines Class C Title Game Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong><em><strong><em><strong>Get 25% off your subscription by entering Knight25 in the coupon code area. Enjoy!</strong></em></strong></em></strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Ryan Cowboys are state champions for the first time in program history! They completed a perfect 13-0 season, beating Medford 60-30 in the Class C state championship game. Junior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1832582' first='Noah' last='Torrez'] was the star of the afternoon, finishing with nearly 400 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground and countless plays on defense. In this post, we put the spotlight on three standouts from each team on Friday afternoon. You can also check out our game highlights and our instant reaction video for a complete recap on the Class C state title game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>RELATED</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awzYPJ5nXJE","type":"video","providerNameSlug":"youtube","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awzYPJ5nXJE </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BgLtPM0-lA","type":"video","providerNameSlug":"youtube","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BgLtPM0-lA </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>CLASS C TOP PERFORMERS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1839286' first='Cash' last='Kelley'] - Sophomore Quarterback - Medford</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Medford sophomore quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1839286' first='Cash' last='Kelley'] did everything he could to keep the Cardinals in this game. He was slinging the ball all over the field as Medford had to work hard for everything they got. Overall, he finished 17-34 for 128 yards and two touchdowns. He also had 15 carries for 32 yards and a touchdown. Kelley, just a sophomore, will be a player to watch in Class C next season as he played really solid football on Friday afternoon and was a big reason why the Cardinals made it to the state title game in the first place. We're already looking forward to seeing what's next for him. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1838828' first='Eston' last='Hardy'] - Sophomore Running Back/Defensive Back - Ryan</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ryan sophomore running back and defensive back [player_tooltip player_id='1838828' first='Eston' last='Hardy'] had a really good game on both sides of the ball. It might have been overshadowed by the QB's performance but you can't take anything away from how Hardy played on both sides of the ball. Offensively, Hardy ran the ball 15 times for 63 yards and a touchdown. He also was also a key part of the turning point in the game. He came up with an interception in the second quarter that set up a touchdown. Then after they recovered a deep onside kick, Hardy scored from 15 yards out to give Ryan the lead for good. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1831978' first='Ethan' last='Gonzales'] - Senior Running Back/Defensive Back - Medford</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We mentioned with Medford's quarterback how the Cardinals had to work for everything they got on the offensive side of the ball. But there were times when senior running back and defensive back [player_tooltip player_id='1831978' first='Ethan' last='Gonzales'] was getting whatever he wanted and being the top performer for the Cardinals on Friday. He finished the day with six carries for 76 yards and a touchdown but he also had seven catches for 35 yards and a touchdown. Then he led the team in tackles and it wasn't close on the defensive side of the ball. Gonzales finished off his high school career in style on Friday afternoon. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1838238' first='Kingston' last='Edwards'] - Senior Wide Receiver/Defensive Back - Medford</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Medford senior wide receiver and defensive back [player_tooltip player_id='1838238' first='Kingston' last='Edwards'] got the scoring started on Friday in a game that had plenty of offensive fireworks. Early on in the first quarter, Edwards got loose for a 23-yard touchdown and that was the first of many touchdowns that we would see in Friday's game. Overall, Edwards finished the day with five catches for 72 yards and the touchdown. He was also productive as a runner and in the return game. Edwards led the team in receiving on Friday afternoon and we saw some fireworks from him at various times throughout the game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1838825' first='Kyson' last='Tomberlin'] - Senior Offensive/Defensive Lineman - Ryan</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The skill players in Friday's title game could get a lot of praise and rightfully so. But you don't run for over 450 yards as a team without dominant play on the line of scrimmage. Senior offensive and defensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1838825' first='Kyson' last='Tomberlin'] was one of the best players on the field Friday afternoon on both sides of the ball. Offensively, he helped pave the way for the dominant rushing performance. Then he turned around on defense and completely owned that line of scrimmage and made things very difficult for Medford. He finished with eight tackles, including three tackles for loss. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1832582' first='Noah' last='Torrez'] - Junior Quarterback/Defensive Back - Ryan</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ryan junior quarterback and defensive back [player_tooltip player_id='1832582' first='Noah' last='Torrez'] had the best individual performance of any player during the six state championship games in Edmond. He finished the day with 36 carries for 397 yards and seven touchdowns. He also added 21 yards on 2-5 passing but it was all about what he was doing on the ground that helped the Cowboys win their first state title. And as if that wasn't enough, he turned around and finished the day with nine tackles, which was second on the team and also came up with an interception and a fumble recovery that put the game away for good in the fourth quarter. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->