Story
Seminole Ridge High continues football dominance of Palm Beach Central with semifinal win
Friday, November 23, 2012
by
Matt Porter
It would be imprecise to say Seminole Ridge haunts Palm Beach Central. That's not quite the right word.
" 'Haunted' means they would have upset us somewhere along the way," Palm Beach Central coach Rod Harris said. "They've been the better team for many years."
As it relates to the Broncos, Ridge isn't a ghost that spooks. It is a wrecking ball that dismantles. On Friday night, it destroyed Palm Beach Central's season in a dominant 31-7 win in a Class 8A regional semifinal.
Ridge's defense was nearly flawless. It forced two fumbles and recovered one, intercepted a pass, and held the run-first Broncos to 96 yards on the ground (219 yards in total). Most important, standout senior running back Lloyd Howard (8 carries, 41 yards) wasn't a factor.
Aside from missing three tackles on a long screen-pass touchdown by Central's Ray Wilson, there wasn't much for the coaches to dislike.
"We almost played the perfect game," Hawks coach Matt Dickmann said of his defense.
Ridge didn't attempt a pass, but got 148 rushing yards and two touchdowns from senior Silas Spearman, 56 yards and a touchdown from senior Omar Pierre-Louis and 124 yards on 10 carries from junior E.J. Elien.
The Hawks have won eight straight against their western Palm Beach County neighbors since losing their first meeting in 2005. There was plenty of talk after their season-opener was canceled by the school district after Tropical Storm Isaac. Some on Central's side said the Hawks were scared to play and asked for a cancellation, a charge that has had the Hawks burning since August.
"It was an emotional game," Spearman said. "This win wasn't for us. It was for our community. What they said hurt. We didn't talk out there. We did it with our pads."
From the opening kickoff, when Spearman blasted Wilson on a return, Ridge was the more physical team. That hadn't changed by the end, when one of the stars of Ridge's defense, senior defensive tackle Kyle Shortridge, brought down Broncos junior Kevin Bramhall on a quarterback hit.
"In the third quarter, they started saying 'Congratulations' and stuff after plays," senior defensive end Jason Shepherd said. "They knew they lost. We were laying the wood to them the whole game. We earned our respect."
The Hawks scored in every quarter. Senior Omar Pierre-Louis, who caught a game-winning 35-yard touchdown pass in the regional quarterfinals against Park Vista, capped a nine-play, 40-yard drive with a 4-yard burst. In the second, crunching blocks from tackle Antonyo Woods and fullback Alberto Hidalgo freed Spearman to scoot up the sideline for a 50-yard touchdown with 1:38 left in the half.
An 18-yard field goal by Derek Falk put Ridge up 17-0 in the third, before Central finally answered with 10:39 in the fourth. Wilson caught a screen pass at the line, fought off three Hawks, and jetted 61 yards to the end zone.
But an interception deep in Central territory by senior linebacker Rayfield Dixon and a 2-yard run by Spearman made it 24-7. Hidalgo punched in a 4-yard score with 4:08 left.
That was it, but it was long over by then. Now Ridge hosts Weston-Cypress Bay in the 8A regional finals, trying to maintain the momentum gained from a win they've thought about for months.
Seminole Ridge running back Silas Spearman (2) cuts between Palm Beach Central Wilky Orelien (5) and Josh Guterriez (22) on a run in the second quarter a in a class 8A regional semifinal. (Allen Eyestone/The Palm Beach Post)
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User Comments:
THUNDER CAT commented on November 23, 2012 at 11:33 p.m.: report abuse
THUNDER, THUNDER, THUNDER, THUNDER CATS!........ HOOOOO!
Yo Bronco Billy commented on November 23, 2012 at 11:34 p.m.: report abuse
OUCH!!!
WAY TO GO HAWKS !!!! commented on November 23, 2012 at 11:35 p.m.: report abuse
Well the Fat lady has sung. HAWKS roll the Broncos again.
Great overall effort guys,Offense,Defense,Kicking,Special teams, and Coaching staff
This wasnt even a contect from the first whistle, was like a game between a HS team vs a Pew wee team. To the Broncos kicking machine HAHAHAHAHAHA , you shouldnt run your mouth unless you can back it up,, the better kicking machine of the hawks was perfect and he's humble. Well if you want to come watch a team play Broncos your invited next week to come and watch...wear your RED !!!
Quote Of The Year From The Coach Of The Year commented on November 23, 2012 at 11:52 p.m.: report abuse
"You don't kick a man when he's down and be careful what you wish for".
- Matt Dickmann
CBS 12 Friday Night Blitz
what ever commented on November 24, 2012 at 2:25 a.m.: report abuse
@Matt&Jeff I thought you said PBC offensive line was dominant, it look to me SR offensive line won this one. I think you need to give them some love 53, 73 & 76 they played good tonight.
its ok commented on November 24, 2012 at 5:53 a.m.: report abuse
Of course you dont kick a man when hes down, but dammm it feels good to win. A great overall effort by those Hawks.... what to wish for?? Finally a title for a deserved team and a good program... way to go guys !!!
now it gets harder commented on November 24, 2012 at 6:02 a.m.: report abuse
Well you never want to see a team loose, because someday you'll be on the end of that loosing stick. Now it gets harder for the Hawks as you move up the ladder you need to play better. Sorry to the Bronco players Im sure you tried your best, Some iffy moments for the Hawks again, alot of penalties "Lets clean it up Boys". XMAS around the corner,,what to wish for a..... state champ !!!!
Yo Bronco Billy commented on November 24, 2012 at 8:42 a.m.: report abuse
I hear the SFC is looking for a few more teams.
Hawk parent commented on November 24, 2012 at 9:07 a.m.: report abuse
The o-line was AWSOME last night! Great job Hawks! @ whatever... Very well said!
Hawk parent commented on November 24, 2012 at 9:10 a.m.: report abuse
But...the whole o-line played well!! As a team!!
Ran Away... commented on November 24, 2012 at 10 a.m.: report abuse
... with his tail between his legs.
Booring Game commented on November 24, 2012 at 1:43 p.m.: report abuse
Big win for the ridge but the most booring high school game I have seen.no passing game at all by the ridge come on not one passing attempt by your Quaternary back the coaches are not putting any faith in their QB.Good Luck next week hopefully it will be a more exciting game like the one vs park vista.And please get. An anouncer that knows the game of Football who ever was doing the game last night was horrible as the Game.
@@congrates commented on November 24, 2012 at 2:22 p.m.: report abuse
OH PLEASE STOP .HORSE TRANQUILIZERS ARE IN ABUNDANCE IN SEMI=ROID.
RIDGE commented on November 24, 2012 at 2:23 p.m.: report abuse
Not a single passing attempt, and we still blew out central. With a great qb we'd be unstopable !
Hawk parent commented on November 24, 2012 at 3:02 p.m.: report abuse
Uhmmm, ROIDS no...we just feed our kids well out here! And oh yeah! And they work bust there butts off!!
Curious Fan commented on November 24, 2012 at 5:59 p.m.: report abuse
Just curious is there really a steroid issue at Ridge?Reason being I do not here this kind of talk with any other team.Not all the time ,but sometimes there is some truth to what is said.And BTW why pass they ran all over PBC defense.
PBC fan commented on November 24, 2012 at 6:13 p.m.: report abuse
I have had enough of #2 he runs his mouth all the time. He is a good runner but he is soft! I watch him last night and he look scared of Defense. Who plays 7 yards deep in the endzone on goalline!!( Scared) He plays 20 yards deep on Regular defense against a team that has not passed a single ball.( Scared) He did not even play down hill at all. (Scared) I counted at least 10 times he did not even make a attempt to even move from his position. I know he is already committed so he sold his team mates out. Disguised!!! How can he be a leader of this team! When will we realize that bad apples just ruin our team. NO BAM from bam. I hope this tape get sent to FAU! Can you say rescind
WOW commented on November 24, 2012 at 7:16 p.m.: report abuse
"They're a well-oiled machine," Wilson said of the Hawks. "They might not have all the best athletes, but they do their individual jobs really well."
Central, of course, has its own style.
"We are a get-in-your-face-all-night type of team," Wilson said. "We're relentless. With a little swagger."
Added Howard: "They have seven consecutive wins, but they haven't seen a Palm Beach Central team like us
THIS IS SOOOOO FUNNY!!
@WOW commented on November 24, 2012 at 7:43 p.m.: report abuse
what is funny about that^^^
@@WOW commented on November 24, 2012 at 7:58 p.m.: report abuse
What's funny 31-7, now that was in your face with a touch of swagger! LOL
PBC Fan commented on November 25, 2012 at 8:13 a.m.: report abuse
Ridge was clearly the better team Friday night. They just dominated both sides of the lines. Congratulations and good luck verse Cypress Bay next week.
You got to be kidding me commented on November 25, 2012 at 11:46 a.m.: report abuse
Lesson for PBC Coaching staff.
You can't win big games with your best running backs: one on the sideline and the other on defense. Taking nothing away from Bam (had an ok year) but lets keep it real.
Football 101. Here end of lesson
561 Fan commented on November 26, 2012 at 6:50 a.m.: report abuse
There is NO steroid issue at Ridge! They are one of the few schools in Palm Beach County that actually uses their weight room! IF Palm Beach County would invest in real coaches, they would have 8 teams still in the playoffs. Win it in the offseason, that is what Ridge does.
Agree commented on November 26, 2012 at 7:38 a.m.: report abuse
561 believe or not there is truth to what you said.But it will remain the same they don't pay coaches well in S Fla.
Play the best commented on November 27, 2012 at 10:10 a.m.: report abuse
To the ridge Coach Dickmann next year why not put Saint Thomas Aquinas on your schedual play the best to make your team better I don't think you have ever played them.Play a real powerhouse.their in 8 a just different divison. ?
longatogroup commented on December 9, 2012 at 5:35 p.m.: report abuse
Thank You!, Phentermine, >:P, Xanax, 229, Tramadol, 68331, Buy Ativan, bjqd, Buy Cialis, gnu,
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