Article by Tim Hackett
Two weeks ago, Cedar Ridge High School fans saw something they hadn’t seen in nearly two years: a varsity Red Wolves football game. For a school that’s hoping to rebuild, revitalize and renew its football program, that was Step One. This week, Cedar Ridge was searching for success at Step Two: winning a varsity football game for the first time in exactly 750 days.
But instead of Step Two, the Red Wolves (0-2) took a big step back, falling 42-0 to the Bartlett Yancey Buccaneers (3-0) Friday night in Hillsborough. After Cedar Ridge was unable to capitalize on seven Carrboro turnovers in the game two weeks ago, the Buccaneers showcased how to convert mistakes into points – five of the six Bartlett Yancey touchdowns came immediately off Cedar Ridge turnovers, and the sixth came courtesy of a muffed snap that the Buccaneer defense fell on in the end zone.
The Red Wolves began their first Friday night game of the season with a three-and-out but quickly got back on offense as KJ Barnes soared to pick off a pass from Chase Johnson, the senior quarterback’s first giveaway this season. But just a couple of plays later, Cedar Ridge quarterback returned the favor with an undercooked pass down the right sideline that Shahiem Boyd nabbed, and the Buccaneers converted that into a 22-yard touchdown run by standout junior running back Michael Slade, who was averaging 12 yards per carry heading into Friday. Berger’s muffed snap led to the defensive score and a 12-0 lead for the visitors early in the second quarter, and before Cedar Ridge could escape the shadows of its own goal posts Boyd picked off Berger again to set up the Buccaneers inside the red zone and allow Johnson to scamper in on a QB keeper for a 20-0 lead.
That’s when the wheels came off for the Red Wolves. After that touchdown, Miles Jefferson kicked off for the visitors and KJ Barnes received it. But somewhere during the return he coughed the ball up and Bartlett Yancey recovered it. A few plays later, Johnson found Boyd for a score. After that touchdown, Miles Jefferson kicked off for the visitors and Jaikel Gibbs received it. But somewhere during the return he coughed the ball up and Bartlett Yancey recovered it. The next play, veteran back Jacob Scales took it to the house for a score. After that touchdown, Miles Jefferson kicked off for the visitors and Elijah Whitaker received it. But somewhere during the return he coughed the ball up and Bartlett Yancey recovered it. A few plays later, Johnson hit Davon Lipscomb for a touchdown and the Buccaneers had a 42-0 lead. Three virtually identical plays with three identical outcomes: treasure buried in the end zone, unearthed by the Buccaneers.
Something changed for Cedar Ridge after halftime. Sure, the visitors were able to coast somewhat with a massive lead the Red Wolves never threatened to reduce, but the Buccaneers played their starters, including Johnson, for the entire third quarter and much of the fourth. Sure, he mercy rule running clock went into effect after halftime, meaning neither team had to run nearly as many plays, but the Red Wolves still shut out Bartlett Yancey after the break. After a slow start, Isaiah McCambry had a strong second half on both sides of the ball, proving the week one suspicion that he is someone Cedar Ridge can build around. Braxton Mergenthal was a tackling force and clearly showed himself as the best defensive player wearing the dark uniform. And though they benefitted from more than a few Buccaneer drops in the second half, the Cedar Ridge secondary also improved as the game went on. Still, after a frustrating loss to Carrboro and this lackluster loss to Bartlett Yancey sandwiching the team’s only bye week, new head coach Torrean Hinton must turn the page quickly as his team gets set to head to Sanford to face Southern Lee for the first of three straight road games next week.
Third-year Bartlett Yancey head coach Jason Brumfield said this summer his main goal was to win more games than last year. After a 3-8 campaign a season ago, the Buccaneers seem primed to plunder one their most prosperous seasons in recent history. As for Cedar Ridge, their quest for their first varsity win since August 2017 will have to wait at least another week.