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Raiders rip Ryan, clinch at least a share of 5-4A title
November 3, 2007 12:28 AM

Nick Gholson
Times Record News

The shootout turned into a blowout Friday night at Memorial Stadium.

And it didn’t take long for that to happen.

Shavodrick Beaver and Eric Ward hooked up for three touchdown passes in the first 16 minutes - and it just got worse from there for Denton Ryan.

Rider roared out to a 38-0 halftime lead and then put it in cruise control for a 45-7 win that clinched at least a share of the District 5-4A championship for the fifth straight year.

The Raiders (8-1; 5-0) can win the title outright with a win over Wichita Falls High School in the final game of the season back here next week. Ryan (5-4; 4-1) can still get a three-way piece of the district championship with a win over Denton High next year and a Coyote win over Rider.

Rider-DentRyan 1.jpg

But Rider wasted little time showing Denton Ryan who was boss.

"We were looking forward to this game. We were excited about it. It was definitely a focus for us," said Rider coach Scott Ponder, whose No. 6 Raiders are now riding a six-game win streak.

The Beaver-to-Ward connection produced touchdown passes of 45, 15 and 12 yards to put Ryan in a big hole early.

"They came after us, and it freed up some things. They were bringing some heat to stop our running attack, and we were able to hit him (Ward) quick, and he made some plays," Ponder explained.

"We have a good relationship," Ward said of Beaver. "We can read each other."

Ryan turned the ball over on its first two possessions. Boris Matthews' recovery of quarterback Austin Axtell’s fumble set up Ward's second touchdown, and John Fisher's interception stopped the next drive.

Then the Rider defense put points on the board.

Fisher picked up running back Jay Catlin's fumble and returned it 42 yards for a touchdown and a 28-0 led with 5:21 left in the first half.

The defense came through again the next time Ryan had the ball. James Chambers and Tim Carlson helped bottle up Catlin for a 2-yard loss on a fourth-and-one gamble near midfield.
Rider cashed in on Joey Neale's 35-yard field goal.

Ryan hurt itself one more time in the half with a 16-yard punt that gave Rider the ball just 37 yards from the end zone with 48 seconds to play. Jurell Thompson scooted 20 yards for the TD and the 38-0 intermission lead.

Rider-DentRyan 2.jpg

Ryan drove 80 yards for a touchdown - a 5-yard pass from Catlin to D.J. Beshears - on its first drive of the second half, but Rider quickly countered.

Damien Washington caught a pass and turned it into a 56-yard gain on third-and-nine at the Rider 18. Then Washington got the call from the 7 and followed blocking back Tanner French over the left side for the final score of the game with 1:24 left in the fourth quarter.

"We got off to a fast start and that forced them to do some things they didn't want to do," Ponder said. "And that snowballed. We are by no means 38 points better than Denton Ryan. That was just some kind of fluke deal."

Thompson had seven carries for 97 yards – five for 83 in the first half.

Ward had six catches for 101 yards, all in the opening half.

The Raiders got outstanding defensive performances from Chambers, Fisher, Tim Carlson, Ryan McDonald and Boris Matthews.

Sports Editor Nick Gholson can be reached by calling (940) 720-3447 or 1-800-627-1646 (ext. 447) before 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Or you can e-mail him at gholsonn(at) timesrecordnews.com.

Rider 45, Denton Ryan 7
Denton Ryan Rider
15 First Downs 18
34-110 Yards Rushing 29-188
152 Yards Passing 190
12-23-1 Comp/Att/Int 10-13-0
5-27.4 Punts-Average 3-35.3
2-2 Fumbles Lost 0-0
3-28 Yards Penalized 5-40
———
Denton Ryan 0 0 7 0 — 7
Rider 14 24 7 0 — 45
———
Rider: Eric Ward 45 pass from Shavodrick Beaver (Joey Neale kick)
Rider: Ward 15 pass from Beaver (Neale kick)
Rider: Ward 12 pass from Beaver (Neale kick)
Rider: John Fisher 46 fumble return (Neale kick)
Rider: Neale 35 field goal
Rider: Jurell Thompson 20 run (Neale kick)
Ryan: D.J. Beshears 5 pass from Jay Catlin (Nick Rinks kick)
Rider: Damien Washington 7 run (Neale kick)
INDIVIDUAL STATS
Rushing: (Ryan) Jay Catlin 11-58; Austin Axtell 7-(-9); Isaac Walker 9-40; Will Clark 5-18; Will Nelson 2-3. (Rider) Damien Washington 12-44; Jurell Thompson 7-97; Shavodrick Beaver 3-16; Eric Ward 1-1; Mason Deerinwater 2-2; Ryan McDonald 1-10; Tim Berardi 3-10; Jake Awtry 1-8
Passing: (Ryan) Axtell 8-12-1 69; Catlin 6-10-0 64; Nelson 1-1-0 19. (Rider) Beaver 10-13-0 190
Receiving: (Ryan) Ryan Salter 4-38; Taylor Lokey 5-82; D.J. Beshears 2-21; Walker 1-0; Antonio Anderson 1-19. (Rider) Ward 6-101; Chris Edmond 1-17; Tim Carlson 1-8; Washington 2-64
Fumble recoveries: (Ryan none); (Rider) Will Tolliver; Boris Matthews
Interceptions: (Ryan) none; (Rider) John Fisher
Sacks: (Ryan) none; (Rider) Boris Matthews; James Chambers
Records: Denton Ryan 5-4 (4-1); Rider 8-1 (5-0)