WILLMAR - Bring on the Yellowjackets!
Ridgewater whipped Vermilion 44-6 on Saturday at Hodapp Field, the Warriors’ second victory over an MCAC North Division team.
On Saturday, they open South Division play at Rochester, which fell at Brainerd to Central Lakes College 41-37.
Ridgewater rolled up 200 yards passing and 162 yards on the ground in a herky-jerky game bogged down by 19 penalties.
The Warriors’ defense didn’t allow the visitors’ offense to score while putting up three TDs of its own.
Dominick Wise rushed for 82 yards and DaShawn Bell for 72.
“They give us a great 1-2 punch with either one capable of breaking a long run,” said coach Ron Baumgarn. “Our offensive line still has some work to do to correct mainly mental errors.”
Wise made a twisting 53-yard TD run shedding would-be tacklers on three occasions.
Baumgarn also cited defensive backs Dennis Archibald and Brooklyn Shurelds for outstanding play.
Josh Hall, Adiaha Bell and Darrice Orkman scored defensive touchdowns.
Vermilion’s only tally came on a fumble pick-up and return in the first period.
Tony Ayala completed 16 of 29 passes, two for TDs.
The Warriors logged 12 penalties for 95 yards; the conversion team failed on 6 of 7 tries.
Ridgewater will try for its second win this century over the Jackets, a 5 p.m. kickoff on Saturday.
MCAC: Minnesota West 14 Itasca 13,
Central Lakes 41 Rochester 37,
NDSCS 56 Mesabi Range 26,
Dakota College 24 M State Fergus Falls 20.
Ridgewater 44, Vermilion 6
Vermilion (0-2) 6 0 0 0 - 6
Ridgewater (2-0) 6 6 13 19 - 44
R – Chris Tidwell 8 pass from Tony Ayala (kick fail)
V – Devonte Jones 46 fumble recovvery (kick fail)
R – Dominick Wise 56 run (kick fail)
R – Josh Hall 53 interception return (Glenn Meyers kick)
R – DaShawn Bell 29 pass from Ayala (kick fail)
R – Adiaha Bell 30 interception return (kick fail)
R – Jeremiah Grimsley 2 run (2 point conversion fail)
R – Darrice Orkman fumble recovery in end zone (kick fail)
Vermilion
First downs: 7 … Rushing: 55 … Passing (com-att-yds-int.): 8-25-88-3… Penalties: 7-65
Rushing: Devonta Whittaker 9-021, Derrick Wilder 5-11 … Passing: Whittaker 3-16-70-2, Trenton White 5-9-18-1 … Receiving: Devonta Brooks 1-23, Reshard Ross 2-31 … Punting: Whittaker 8-31.5
Ridgewater
First downs: 13 … Rushing: 162 … Passing (com-att-yds-int.): 16-29-200-0 … Fumbles lost: 2 … Penalties: 12-95
Rushing: Dominick Wise 4-82, DaShawnBell 11-72, Dan Maras 3-11, Tony Ayala 6-(-29), Jeremiah Grimsely 2-2, CJ Larkins 5-24 … Passing: Ayala 16-29-200-0 ... Receiving: Chris Tidwell -53, Kelvin Jones 5-70, Brandon Zuidema 1-10, D. Bell 1-29, Brandon Jackson 1-23, Johnnie Pope 2-15… Punting: Kelvin Jones 4-29.25 … Interceptions: Josh Hall, Adiaha Bell, Brooklyn Shurelds … Fumble recoveries: Darrice Orkman … Tackles (solo-assist): Luke Branch 3, Dennis Archibald 3, Adiaha Bell 7, Quiron King 5, AJ Moore 5, Reggie Gayden 5, Brandon Boateng 5, Justin Norwood 5, Roy Johnson 3, Tarnard Styles 5, Jack Goeman 4, Jeremy Boykins 2, James Ebertowski 2, Antonion Carmichael 2, Josh Hall 2 … QB sacks: Blanch 3 … TFL: Boykins 1-(-8)
