Ryle's Jaden Galicia had three touchdowns in the Raiders victory. Photo provided | Brandon Wheeler
Ryle kept the good energy rolling Friday night after a commanding 43-14 home victory over Central Hardin in a Class 6A Region Championship.
The win crowned the Raiders as region champs for the first time since 2010.
“It will always feel good to win a trophy on your home field,” Raiders head coach Mike Engler said. “My players have given their best in every game this season. This is another step towards our end goal.”
Much like the week prior, the Raiders wasted no time putting the first six on the scoreboard. Jaden Galicia blew by Central Hardin’s special teams for a 95-yard touchdown return.
“It set the tone for the rest of the game,” Galicia said. “It’s a great feeling, especially to get it done on the first play of the game.”
Central Hardin appeared to simmer the momentum when a decent return of their own set them up just outside the red zone. Bruins senior Jackson Rachua finished off the run- heavy drive with a goal line carry to even the score.
Entering Friday’s contest, Central Hardin had just 73 passing attempts through 12 games. The Bruins would carry the ball 21 times in the first half without a passing attempt.
“We kind of figured out early on they (Central Hardin) would run the ball a lot to keep the clock moving,” Engler said. “Our defensive coordinator (Adam Collinsworth) was unable to be here tonight. He talked with us at halftime, but our guys were able to make the adjustments needed to contain the Bruins run game early on.”
Known for their trickery on offense, Ryle quarterback Nathan Verax tossed one backwards to Landon Lorms, who found junior Dylan Lee down the field for a 46-yard reception. Lorms was quickly rewarded a few plays later as Verax found him in the endzone for an eight-yard touchdown.
Lorms added another touchdown reception later for his 10th of the year.
Ryle’s defense forced two turnovers and a safety in the second half. Photo provided | Brandon Wheeler
The Bruins had a chance to keep things even on a fourth down run before the Raiders’ defense held their line to force a turnover on downs. The fourth down attempt proved to be a key play in the game as the Raiders took over the game shortly after.
“We told the defense the key to taking control of this game was to make a couple key plays here and there and our offense will take over,” Engler said. “That’s exactly what they did.”
Down 21-7 at the half, Bruins quarterback Caleb Irwin attempted his first pass on the opening drive of the second half. The pass fell into the hands of Ryle’s Lee as he returned the ball towards the Raiders’ redzone.
Two turnovers and a safety put Central Hardin’s deficit even furhter, Verax passing for two touchdowns of the miscues to make it 37-14.
A Galicia carry for a score got the game to a running clock with 8:25 left in the game. Galicia finished with three touchdowns as lead running back Jacob Savage was limited to a primarily defensive role due to an injury in last week’s victory over St. Xavier. Without Savage and his 985 rushing yards, Galicia was up for the task.
“It felt great playing for all my brothers on the team,” Galicia said. “I had some big shoes to fill which meant I’ve been busting my butt all week.”
Engler noted Savage’s absence was precautionary.
Central Hardin senior Seth Laudermilt found the endzone in the final seconds to lessen the deficit and push the fullback past 900 rushing yards on the season. The Bruins turned an 0-6 start into a 4-9 record as the Raiders offense was just too much Friday night.
“We’re not afraid to play anybody,” Engler said. “Nothing scares us at this point because we’ve played the best teams in the state all season. We’ve learned to come back from behind, find wins in overtime, and take games over which means we’ve seen just about every scenario there is.”
The Raiders will look to carry on that mindset next Friday as they’ll meet Great Crossing at home for the second time this season. Ryle won the previous meeting in October, 36-8 as the Raiders netted 391 yards offensively and got the game to a running clock in the early stages of the second half.
Next week’s matchup will officially solidify who gets to compete for a championship at Kroger Field on Dec. 7.
RAIDERS 43, BRUINS 14
RYLE — 14-7-16-6 — 43
CENTRAL HARDIN — 7-0-0-7 — 14
Scoring Plays
1st Quarter
(R) Galicia 95-yard return (11:37) Moses kick
(CH) Rachau 1-yard run (6:24) Chenault kick
(R) Verax 8-yard pass to Lorms (4:34) Moses kick
2nd Quarter
(R) Verax 4-yard run (0:56) Moses kick
3rd Quarter
(R) Verax 8-yard pass to Lorms (8:58) Moses kick
(R) Safety (7:15)
(R) Verax 16-yard pass to Galicia (6:15) Moses kick
