Ragsdale takes out Black Knights

Tue. November 08, 2011 at 12:21 a.m. | By Jason Queen

JAMESTOWN | Every time it needed to, Ragsdale came up with a big play Saturday night.
North Davidson couldn’t do the same.
The Tigers got 204 yards passing and two touchdowns from Garrison Herndon and a 55-yard interception return by Brandon Swinton to post a 26-18 victory over the Black Knights in the first round of the 4-A playoffs in Jamestown. North got within eight with 1:38 left but could not recover Spencer Landfried’s well-placed onside kick.
The loss left North coach Mark Holcomb shaking his head and still in search of the program’s first playoff win since 2002.
“I’m proud of our kids for fighting back and getting back in the game and getting a chance there,” Holcomb said.
“These kids don’t understand how good of a year they’ve had. I read the paper all the time and people talk about injuries, injuries, injuries. Our kids have never once used that as an excuse. These kids have nothing to be ashamed of.”
Clinging to a 10-7 lead to start the second half, Ragsdale recorded the biggest play of the night at the most opportune time. Herndon lofted a fade down the right sideline for Brandon Walker, but North’s Gabe Gentle had a bead on it and tipped it. But Walker kept his concentration and hauled it in, and somehow managed to stay inbounds and keep his balance. What looked like a nice defensive play turned into a 72-yard touchdown and a 24-10 lead that seemed to suck the life out of the Knights.
“It was huge,” Ragsdale coach Tommy Norwood said. “It opened it up a little, and he just made a tremendous catch.
“I didn’t get to see but one hand out; I’m looking forward to seeing it, I hope we got it on tape.”
North went three-and-out on its next three possessions and lost the field position battle after a couple of nice punts from Ragsdale’s Brad Davis. The Knights fumbled a handoff in their own end zone for a safety, and trailed 26-10 early in the fourth.
That’s where it stood until Tevin Tuttle lobbed a fade to Eli Moore down the right sideline, and Moore corralled it in the end zone. Tuttle hit Charles Brunson for the 2-point conversion, and with 1:38 to play North had new life down 26-18.
But with only one timeout left, the Knights had to attempt an onside kick, and Walker recovered for the Tigers.
It left Holcomb with one goal still nagging at him. “Hats off to Ragsdale, but we’ve got to get out of the first round of the playoffs,” he said.
“We’ve got to get that off our…that’s what we’re known for. Have a pretty good year and then get beat in the first round. That’s what’s hard.”
Ragsdale used the big play to its advantage in the first half again. Swinton stepped in front of Chase Mitchell’s first pass of the evening and raced 55 yards for a touchdown.
North responded with an impressive drive, and it was almost all Tuttle. He hit Brunson for a 14-yard pickup on third-and-long, then came through with a virtual instant replay on third-and-six. Tuttle then called his own number on third-and-two, with a draw up the middle for a 4-yard touchdown to tie things up late in the first.
The Tigers received a 50-yard return on the ensuing kickoff from Brandon Walker to set up a short field. North’s defense bent but didn’t break, stopping Marquez Eleazer on third down and forcing the Tigers to settle for Max Davis’ 22-yard field goal.
Ragsdale pulled a little third down magic of its own on its next possession. Anthony Stewart found a hole in the North zone, and Garrison Herndon hit him on a short curl. Stewart sped 52 yards to the end zone to put the Tigers in front 17-7 late in the first half.
North fought back with a 45-yard drive, highlighted by Brunson’s 4-yard run on fourth-and-one. Landfried booted a 42-yard field goal just before halftime to get North within 10-7 at the break.
Notes: Tuttle ran for 46 yards for North, which managed only 59 yards on the ground, and he was 10-of-13 passing for 111 yards. … Brunson had seven catches for 66 yards. … North ends its season at 8-4. Ragsdale, now 9-2, visits Mount Tabor in the second round next week.

Jason Queen can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 220 or jason.queen@the-dispatch.com.