55 minutes ago, Cincinnati Cobra said:

Great Crossing is in uncharted territory. They're a pretty new program and I read that they hadn't won a playoff game until this season. There's a lot of excitement and nerves built into that, and it's a lot for a coaching staff to have to keep control of if a team program goes from an all time o-fer record in the playoffs to an appearance in the semifinals of the largest football classification in the state.

It's been a while, but Ryle has been here before. Engler is a seasoned coach. The Raiders have been playing a dominant style of football all season. I think Ryle rolls at home in this one.

If Great Crossing pulls off the upset, that says a whole lot about not only the players they have on their team, but almost as much or more about the coaches they have on their sideline. Good luck to both teams.

Is this Ryle’s second or third state semi finals appearance?

12 minutes ago, futurecoach said:

Is this Ryle’s second or third state semi finals appearance?

I know they played in the state finals while Bryson Warner was running the show. That was around 2006 or 2007. And then I believe they lost in the semis to Trinity three or four years after that.

A roll call for each team's best of the best:

Ryle Raiders ?‍☠️ (11-2, 6A #5)
Jacob Savage (RB/LB) - 1,287 yards from scrimmage and 24 TDs | Team high 124 tackles | 8.5 TFL | 1 INT 
Nathan Verax (QB) - 1,922 passing yards with 26 TDs and 10 INTs | 514 rushing yards and 6 TDs 
Landon Lorms (WR) - 44 receptions for 711 yards and 10 TDs 
Dylan Lee (WR/DB) - 41 receptions for 536 yards and 7 TDs | 5 INTs including a pick-six 
Dillon Smith (DE) - 50 tackles | Team highs in TFL (18.5) and sacks (8.5)
Bo Gay (DE) - 40 tackles | 14 TFL and 8 sacks

 

Great Crossing Warhawks ?? (10-3, 6A #9)
Luke Ballard (RB) - 1,851 rushing yards and 25 TDs 
Jeremiah Clark (QB) - 1,905 total yards and 27 touchdowns 
Clayton Shaddix (LB/RB) - 126 tackles | Team highs in TFL (14) and sacks (7.5) | 471 rushing yards and 9 TDs 
Wyatt Highley (LB) - Fifth in the state with 152 tackles | 13.5 TFL  | 1 INT 
Logan Clayton (LB) - 113 tackles | 4 sacks | 8 fumbles forced or recovered 
Trey Campbell (DB/KR) - 2 INTs | 2 KR TDs 

14 hours ago, DevilMayCare said:

Great Crossing Warhawks ?? (10-3, 6A #9)
Luke Ballard (RB) - 1,851 rushing yards and 25 TDs 

Ryle Raiders ?‍☠️ (11-2, 6A #5)
Jacob Savage (LB) - Team high 124 tackles | 8.5 TFL | 1 INT 
Dillon Smith (DE) - 50 tackles | Team highs in TFL (18.5) and sacks (8.5)
Bo Gay (DE) - 40 tackles | 14 TFL and 8 sacks

If Crossing is going to make a run at pulling the upset, I think the matchup above has to be far more favorable for the Warhawks than it was the first time they met.

Ballard is one of the state's best ball carriers, but running at Ryle's stout defensive front yielded him 23 yards on 9 carries. He's averaged 200 a game since that night, including a school record 323 last week. I'm not saying he needs another night like that, but GC needs to get more productivity out of him, because I don't see the Warhawks slowing the Raiders down.

Perfect storm for Ryle this year.  6A being somewhat down this year and Ryle having one of their best teams in school history 

Not knowing anything about Great Crossing I have to say congrats on a great run. Great season for that squad by any measure. If they have a chance here it's that they have found ways to stay close with some good teams. I got into the Ryle film and here is why I am going with the Raiders. They have a really good defense. You know you are having a good season when your LB's and D-line are your leading tacklers. We (Dixie) had one of the best rushers in 5A and found it tough sledding against their box. They can and will make you one dimensional and the dimension they dictate to you, is not the one you want. I won't say their secondary is stingy but they are very opportunistic. Offensively Verax has gotten better with the turnovers that plagued him seasons past. He is shifty and can get yards if he needs. Obviously the Raiders can run the ball. Hands down one of the top O-Lines I had the displeasure of game planning for. Their interior O-line is not only good, they are exceptional. I know Coach Engler has had some ups and downs in Union but he put together a solid group of coaches and has the program going in a good direction.

On 11/25/2024 at 9:41 AM, Sycamores57 said:

Ryle Wins. Not a running clock, but I think they control the game from start to finish.

This !

2 hours ago, CoachStew said:

Not knowing anything about Great Crossing I have to say congrats on a great run. Great season for that squad by any measure. If they have a chance here it's that they have found ways to stay close with some good teams. I got into the Ryle film and here is why I am going with the Raiders. They have a really good defense. You know you are having a good season when your LB's and D-line are your leading tacklers. We (Dixie) had one of the best rushers in 5A and found it tough sledding against their box. They can and will make you one dimensional and the dimension they dictate to you, is not the one you want. I won't say their secondary is stingy but they are very opportunistic. Offensively Verax has gotten better with the turnovers that plagued him seasons past. He is shifty and can get yards if he needs. Obviously the Raiders can run the ball. Hands down one of the top O-Lines I had the displeasure of game planning for. Their interior O-line is not only good, they are exceptional. I know Coach Engler has had some ups and downs in Union but he put together a solid group of coaches and has the program going in a good direction.

“Seasons past”:  Different Verax this year.  His older brother was a solid QB the last few years.

22 hours ago, futurecoach said:

Is this Ryle’s second or third state semi finals appearance?

22 hours ago, Cincinnati Cobra said:

I know they played in the state finals while Bryson Warner was running the show. That was around 2006 or 2007. And then I believe they lost in the semis to Trinity three or four years after that.

Ryle Playoff History:
1992 - Did Not Compete In District (Dave Eckstein)
1993 - 3A Didn't Qualify For Playoffs (Dave Eckstein)
1994 - 3A Round 1 (Dave Eckstein)
1995 - 3A Round 2 (Dave Eckstein)
1996 - 3A Round 1 (Dave Eckstein)
1997 - 3A Round 2 (Dave Eckstein)
1998 - 3A Round 2 (Dave Eckstein)
1999 - 4A Round 1 (Kyle Hockman)
2000 - 4A Round 2 (Kyle Hockman)
2001 - 4A Didn't Qualify For Playoffs (Kyle Hockman)
2002 - 4A Round 1 (Kyle Hockman)
2003 - 4A Round 1 (Bryson Warner)
2004 - 4A Round 1 (Bryson Warner)
2005 - 4A Round 1 (Bryson Warner)
2006 - 4A State Finals (Bryson Warner)
2007 - 6A Round 2 (Bryson Warner)
2008 - 6A Round 1 (Bryson Warner)
2009 -  6A Round 2 (Bryson Warner)
2010 - 6A Semi-State Finals (Bryson Warner)
2011 - 6A Round 2 (Bryson Warner)
2012 - 6A Round 1 (Bryson Warner)
2013 - 6A Round 1 (Bryson Warner)
2014 - 6A Round 2 (Mike Engler)
2015 - 6A Round 2 (Mike Engler)
2016 - 6A Quarterfinals (Mike Engler)
2017 - 6A Round 1 (Mike Engler)
2018 - 6A Round 1 (Mike Engler)
2019 - 6A Round 1 (Mike Engler)
2020 - 6A Round 1 (Mike Engler)
2021 - 6A Quarterfinals (Mike Engler)
2022 - 6A Round 2 (Mike Engler)
2023 - 6A Quarterfinals (Mike Engler)

Great Crossing Playoff History:
2019 - 5A Round 1 (Paul Rains)
2020 - 5A Round 1 (Ricky Bowling)
2021 - 5A Round 1 (Ricky Bowling)
2022 - 5A Round 1 (Ricky Bowling)
2023 - 6A Round 1 (Ricky Bowling)

Mental toughness required to hang on to the football and adjust to cold weather play on a frigid Friday. Looking forward to the contest at Borland Stadium. My biggest adjustment will be to stop flinching when the cannon is fired. It gets me every time - lol!

93-6 Ryle in the poll. 

Bump.

TD Ryle!