Ryle's Landon Lorms catches a pass and tries to break free from a Trinity defender in Saturday's Class 6A state championship in Lexington. Photo provided | Charles Bolton
What was a promising start turned into a disappointing finish for the Ryle football team on Saturday in the Class 6A state championship against Trinity at Kroger Field in Lexington.
The Raiders jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the game’s opening quarter, but the Shamrocks went on a 42-9 run from there to win their 29th state title, 42-23.
It was a game where the final score wasn’t an indicator of how close things were. Trailing 21-17, a Trinity interception by Caleb Ricks was returned 35 yards for a touchdown with 7:35 to play in the game and the floodgates opened from there.
Ryle’s magical season closes at 12-3, making their second state championship appearance in program history, also losing to Trinity in 2006.
Ryle’s Jacob Savage tries to break a tackle. Photo provided | Charles Bolton
“This goes down as one of the greatest season’s in Ryle history,” Raiders coach Mike Engler said. “We thought we had a chance to win it. Made some mistakes in the second half that they capitalized on.”
The Raiders couldn’t have asked for a better start. The defense forced two three and outs while Nathan Verax hit Landon Lorms for two touchdowns, the second one where Lorms leaped over a Trinity defender and high-pointed the football for a 55-yard touchdown reception. Lorms’ highlight-reel grab gave the Raiders a 14-0 lead with 1:45 left in the opening quarter.
Things continued to build up in Ryle’s favor, facing a 4th and 4 on their own 36-yard line, a fake punt turned into a 37-yard gain by Jaden Galicia to the Trinity 27.
Momentum made a huge shift from there. The Raiders were unable to add points from the fake punt, a Verax throw to Gavin Lyons on 4th and 15 from the Trinity 32 falling incomplete by inches at the front right pylon.
“We go up 21-0 there and it’s a big difference,” Engler said. “Hats off to them, they made plays when they had to made plays. We had some unfortunate turnovers that they scored on.”
Ryle’s Nathan Verax fires a pass downfield. Photo provided | Charles Bolton
Trinity flipped the script in the second quarter, outgained 154-16 in the first, Trinity outgained Ryle 146-66 in the second. The Shamrocks knotted the game at 14 by halftime, Mason Scherer’s 30-yard touchdown reception from Zane Johnson tying things up with 1:49 left before half.
It was a familiar spot for the Shamrocks, falling in a 14-3 hole to Bryan Station in last year’s state title game.
“We get behind, we don’t panic and we just kept playing,” Shamrocks coach Jay Cobb said. “You keep doing that and good things will happen to you.”
The Raiders regained the lead in the third quarter on a Gavin Moses 39-yard field goal, making it 17-14 with 4:17 left in the third.
Trinity responded, and did so in a big way. Jason Hagan caught a 40-yard pass from Johnson, Ricks returned interception pretty much sealed Ryle’s. Ricks is a Notre Dame baseball commit that played like the outfielder he is on the interception.
“All week we were practicing double slant arrow,” Ricks said. “Coach told me before that play the slant was coming and I just robbed it and that’s it.”
The Ryle student section. Photo provided | Charles Bolton
Jamaurion Berry piled on an 11-yard touchdown run to make it 35-17, Bailey Vance getting the Shamrocks their second defensive touchdown on a 15-yard interception return to make it 42-17.
A scary moment came in the closing moments of the game after Jaden Galicia went down after a kickoff return and needed EMTs to come to his attention. Galicia was stretchered off with one of his arms in an air cast.
The Raiders were able to add a score in the final minute, Verax hitting Lorms for the third time on the day to make the final score.
Ryle may graduate 18 seniors, but they return a strong junior and sophomore crop that could certainly get them back in this position next year.
“We’re pretty young, I think we’ve got a chance to be back here next year,” Engler said.
The Raiders certainly earned their way to Saturday’s title game. Throughout the year they faced three teams that played for state championships (Trinity, CAL, Cooper), defeated two state semifinalists (Highlands, Covington Catholic) and put one of the most memorable victories up in program history when they put a running clock on St. Xavier in the postseason and beat ranked Great Crossing twice. The Raiders entered Saturday’s game with running clocks over eight straight opponents.
Lorms finished with eight receptions for 147 yards and the three touchdowns. Verax threw for 269 yards and the three scores. Jacob Savage rushed for 79 yards on 13 carries. Savage highlights the strong junior class coming back.
“This feeling hurts really bad. And I know, me personally, and everyone on our team that’s coming back, we can do anything possible to get back to this moment,” Savage said. “I love playing with all the seniors and we have great friendships that we’ll carry on for the rest of my life. This was my favorite year of football by far.”
Dillon Smith takes down Trinity quarterback Zane Johnson. Photo provided | Charles Bolton
Senior stalwarts on the defensive line, Dillon Smith played his last game in a Ryle uniform with seven tackles, a sack and two tackles for loss. Beau Faul added eight tackles, 2.5 of them for loss, he also recovered a fumble.
SHAMROCKS 42, RAIDERS 23
TRINITY — 0-14-7-14 — 42
RYLE — 14-0-3-6 — 23
Scoring Plays
1st Quarter
(R) Verax 27-yard pass to Lorms (4:49) Moses kick
(R) Verax 55-yard pass to Lorms (1:45) Moses kick
2nd Quarter
(T) Berry 5-yard run (5:08) Hilbert kick
(T) Johnson 30-yard pass to Scherer (1:49) Hilbert kick
3rd Quarter
(R) Moses 39-yard FG (4:17)
(T) Johnson 40-yard pass to Hagan (1:35) Hilbert kick
