Preps

Wesley Chapel 48, River Ridge 21

By ANDY VILLAMARZO, Times Correspondent
Published November 10, 2007

NEW PORT RICHEY - The Wildcats' vaunted Wing-T piled up 422 yards on the ground as Wesley Chapel defeated River Ridge on a night that saw former River Ridge star Ryan Benjamin's jersey retired.

Keenan Reynolds and Hunter Joyer were the main workhorses for Wesley Chapel, as they combined for 303 yards and five touchdowns. Greg Jenkins, in his final game for Wesley Chapel, completed 4 of 7 passes for 59 yards and rushed for 14 yards.

River Ridge held tight throughout the first half and was tied with Wesley Chapel (5-5) at 14 until Blake Spinks was intercepted in the end zone by linebacker Wade Angel, who took the interception 103 yards for a touchdown. Angel's interception return seemed to be the backbreaker as the Royal Knights (1-9) could not recover in the second half, being outscored 27-7 in the third and forth quarters.

Wesley Chapel was hampered by penalties all game, as the Wildcats racked up 85 penalty yards. But penalties could not stop the Wildcats rushing attack in the second half, as Wesley Chapel pummeled the Royal Knights defense for 145 yards on the ground and four more rushing touchdowns.

Knights quarterback Blake Spinks finished 12-of-25 for 158 yards and two touchdowns, and running back Sean Ford finished his final game for River Ridge with 104 yards on 20 carries.

The game also served as a look into the future for the Royal Knights offense, as underclassmen Mario Stewart and Stavros Arianas rushed for 24 and 40 yards,respectively, in the final quarter.

[Last modified November 10, 2007, 00:38:25]