Where Stop Was Right, Where Stop Was Wrong: De Smet vs Ritter

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>De Smet Jesuit versus Cardinal Ritter College Prep was the focus of the PRZMO Game of the Week on Friday. We look back at the preview from Thursday, what I saw coming, what I missed and what the game taught us.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>*** Use code <strong>StopPRZ30</strong> to slash 30% off your subscription to Prep Redzone ***</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>*** Follow your favorites along with us this season on <a href="https://prepredzone.com/game/mo/cardinal-ritter-college-prep-vs-de-smet-jesuit-september-4-2026/"><strong>PRZ SCORES</strong></a> ***</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> https://prepredzone.com/2026/09/football-friday-marquee-matchup-in-the-gateway/ <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":1} --> <h1 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><em>FINAL: DE SMET 49, RITTER 48</em></strong></h1> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><em>Where Stop Was Right</em></strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>ELECTRICITY CONFIRMED</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last year was an electric 66-47 contest. Not that prior year's results should ever be predictive of current year's happenings, but this one did. Based on returning performers, emerging prospects, and the overall explosive potential of both sides, this game delivered in a big way, as both programs combined for 50 points in the young stages of the 2nd quarter, and 56 at the half. The haymakers were thrown early and often, carrying with it the heavyweight battle feel that was expected.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ritter's collection of weapons will be a massive problem for opposing defenses. </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1598550' first='Ryan' last='Richmond-McDavis'] is the established stretch-the-field playmaker, and looked as such on Friday with massive plays down the stretch to impact the scoreboard. [player_tooltip player_id='1160667' first='Malahn' last='Green'] demanded his presence be acknowledged in the first half with over 250 all purpose yards and 4 touchdowns. [player_tooltip player_id='1282833' first='Amir' last='Tillman'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1741240' first='Terrance' last='Jones'] will handle business in the ground game, and it was Tillman with the go ahead score with 1:33 to go. [player_tooltip player_id='1591178' first='Rhylan' last='Moore'] and his efficiency sets the framework and allows the offense to flow.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1221278' first='Kolby' last='Dotson'] will be one of the nationally sought after secondary prospects in the 2029 class.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That specific statement wasn't in the preview, but the expectation of the secondary led by Dotson was. What the sophomore did throughout the night for De Smet was crash on the ball, play all over the field, put explosion on display and make plays with his length. He is physical on contact and led the team in tackles when the night was over. Never want a defensive back to lead the team in that particular statistic, but big time Division I prospects are unique.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>If De Smet were to win, the passing game would have to come into play.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The passing attack led by [player_tooltip player_id='1222934' first='Chase' last='Cooper'] revved up in a big way. Cooper had a productive and efficient evening with 331 yards through the air, completing 25 of 37. Division I prospect [player_tooltip player_id='1287869' first='Cash' last='Lucious'] pulled in 165 yards worth of receptions, a significant chunk of which came on a 54 yard explosion score midway through the 3rd quarter for the first score of the 2nd half for either team, and closed a 16 point gap to 9.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><em>Where Stop Was Wrong</em></strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>De Smet didn't need to rely on controlling and dominating on the ground. </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If they needed ground domination, Cam Sharp was ready, willing, capable, and did, in fact, deliver. He finished with 181 yards on 26 carries, with another 56 yards receiving, 4 total touchdowns including all 3 of his rushing scores in the 4th quarter as De Smet completed the comeback from two scores down. The Spartans kept the Ritter defense stretched and off balance</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>THE FINAL PREDICTION.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It looked good...until it didn't. Ritter went into halftime with a 36-20 lead in a wild first 24 minutes of football. The idea that Ritter would be able to outscore De Smet in a wild up-and-down-the-field contest proved to not be the case. Credit De Smet for being the team to circle the wagons in the second half. Ritter was unable to run away with the game, and De Smet's was able to execute down the stretch to put their field goal kicker in position to win the game by a point from 33 yards out.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/nielstopczynski/status/2095902076475789442","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"x","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/nielstopczynski/status/2095902076475789442 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->