Blackstock Scores Twice To Lead East Ridge Win

Pioneer Quarterback Leads Pioneers To 14-8 Win Over Soddy Daisy

Saturday, October 7, 2023
John Hunt

It’s been a somewhat disappointing football season for the Soddy Daisy Trojans and the East Ridge Pioneers as they entered Friday’s region contest with identical 2-5 records, but there was still a lot to play for as they enter the final month of the regular season.

A playoff berth is still possible for Friday’s winner and that honor goes to the host Pioneers as they made two first-half touchdowns stand for a 14-8 victory in a game dominated more by defense than by offensive highlights.

East Ridge improves to 3-5 overall and 2-2 in the Region 3-4A standings while the Trojans fall to 2-6 overall and 1-4 in region play.

The Pioneers didn’t exactly light up the scoreboard at their own Raymond James Stadium/Earl Shanks Field, but they scored touchdowns on their first two possessions of the game and that was enough to claim the win.

Coach Chad Barger knows just how important that Friday’s game was and he was just happy that his team came out on top, despite losing two fumbles and only having 282 yards of total offense.

“We were up 14-0 and driving. I was thinking that if we could just score one more time, that we might be in a good position, but we weren’t able to do that and it turned into a good old dogfight the rest of the way,” Barger began as sweat streamed down his face following the game.

“It was still a close game in the fourth quarter and we needed a stop. That’s when Corbin York got the interception that saved the game for us. I thought we moved the ball pretty well, but we just can’t have those turnovers,” he said in reference to two lost fumbles in the second half.

“It seems like it’s a playoff atmosphere for us every week and we still need to win one more to get in, but if we can just do what we’re supposed to do, we’ll be just fine. We tried to give it away tonight, but our defense made some big plays to save the day,” he added.

Soddy Daisy coach Carter Cardwell certainly didn’t make any excuses for a loss in a game that was winnable for his Trojans.

“We had our chances as we had plenty of opportunities, but we just didn’t win the game,” he began after the final horn had sounded.

“It came down to a play or two, but we didn’t make them when we needed to and East Ridge did. I’m proud of the way our kids kept battling as they played their hearts out, but we’ll have a meeting next week to decide what our goals are for the remainder of the season,” he nodded.

The Pioneers scored the first time they got the ball after forcing a punt on Soddy Daisy’s first possession. Marching 69 yards in six plays, senior quarterback Jermaine Blackstock scored on a keeper from the 3 with 7:30 left in the opening stanza.

The big play in the drive was a 47-yard pass play from Blackstock to Tyreke Wise-Bridges on a key third and nine from the East Ridge 32. Jerry Hernandez booted the first of two extra points and the Pioneers were on their way.

Blackstock added his second TD of the game with 5:22 left in the first half on a keeper from the 4.

As it turns out, those were the only scores the home team would need.

Soddy Daisy quarterback Tucker Ross scored the only touchdown for the Trojans with 15.9 seconds remaining before intermission as he scored on a keeper around the right end from the 6. East Ridge as offsides on the extra point kick, so the Trojans took advantage and got the two-point run from Gage Welch.

Turnovers were critical for both teams in the second half, but neither could take advantage.

Hasani Jackson recovered a fumble for the Pioneers with 6:40 left in the third around midfield and it looked like East Ridge might extend its lead, but a bobbled snap resulted in a lost fumble at the 6 about three minutes later.

Gannon Montgomery recovered another fumble for the Trojans with just over five minutes left in the game, but Soddy Daisy couldn’t take advantage, despite getting a big 36-yard pass play from Ross to Anthony Lott that moved the ball from the 10 to the 46.

Soddy Daisy had one final opportunity following a Pioneer punt with less than three minutes to play.

Starting at their own 10, Ross completed passes of 20 yards to Brady Stack and another of 23 yards to Blake Castelin, but his next attempt was picked off by Wise-Bridges with 1:03 to play. Soddy Daisy was out of timeouts at that point, so all East Ridge had to do was snap the ball twice before the clock expired.

East Ridge finished the game with 282 total yards, including 214 on the ground.

Marquell Marsh was the leader with 78 yards on 18 carries while Wise-Bridges had 67 yards on six trips and Blackstock 60 yards on 13 attempts. Wise-Bridges also had both pass receptions for another 68 yards.

Soddy Daisy finished with 256 total yards, including 109 on the ground and 147 through the air.

Welch had 59 yards on a dozen carries while Corbin York had 35 yards on 10 trips. Castelin was the leading receiver for the Trojans with 63 yards on two catches while Lott was next with 36 yards on his only catch.

Both teams will be off next Friday. East Ridge will travel to Sequoyah on Oct. 20 while Soddy Daisy will be at home to host William Blount on that same evening.

SODDY DAISY 0 8 0 0 -- 8

EAST RIDGE 7 7 0 0 -- 14

ER – Jermaine Blackstock 3 run (Jerry Hernandez kick), 7:30 left in first;

ER – Blackstock 4 run (Hernandez kick), 5:22 left in second;

SD – Tucker Ross 6 run (Gage Welch run), 0:15.9 left in second.

TEAM STATS SODDY DAISY EAST RIDGE

FIRST DOWNS 11 12

RUSHES-YARDS 35-109 39-214

PASSING YARDS 147 68

TOTAL YARDS 256 282

PASSES (Comp-Att-Int) 7-20-1 2-8-0

PENALTIES-YARDS 6-70 6-58