The Bend High Lava Bears jumped out to an early lead in Redmond, defeating the Ridgeview Ravens 42-13 on Friday and handing the former 4A State Champions a loss in their first league game of 2014.
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Bend started at their own 22 and drove the football 84 yards in 14 plays, capping off the drive with a touchdown pass from senior QB Creighton Simmonds (Sr. 6-1/190) to WR Quinn Fettig (Sr. 6-1/180) giving the Lava Bears an early 7-0 advantage with 5:29 remaining in the first, taking almost 5 and a half minutes off the clock with their inaugural drive.
When Ridgeview finally got the ball at their own 19, two plays later they fumbled the football and Elliot Willy (Jr. 6-2/190) fell on it for Bend, giving them the ball at the 20 yard line.
Ridgeview was able to force Bend to punt after that drive, and QB Jacob Johnson (Sr. 6-4/220), who was sacked nine times Friday, connected on an 85 yard pass to WR Colton Jolley (Sr. 5-9/165) that put the Ravens inside the 5 with under 3 minutes to go in the first quarter.
The Ravens were not able to convert and had to punt the ball away as the second half got underway, reflecting the story of the game; Bend was able to control the clock and line of scrimmage and Ridgeview was never really able to get their offensive game clicking.
Bend would score again when they took the ball on their own 6 with 11:40 remaining and only needed 3 plays to drive 93 yards, scoring off a WRChristian Johnson (Sr. 5-9/165) reverse where the receiver took it 85 yards to the end zone, making it 14-0 as the game went to the half.
When play resumed, Bend also resumed control of the contest after trading punts with the Ravens, scoring with 7:15 remaining in the third after a botched Ridgeview punt put the Lava Bears at the Ridgeview 15, and FB Chris Wallace (Sr. 5-11/185) punched it in on the first snap to cap off a 70 yard drive and make it 21-0.
Jacob Johnson finally put the Ravens on the board with 2:04 left in the 3rd, as he got the Ravens 60 yards down the field in 3 plays off a huge run from Brent Yeakey (So. 5-9 185), that set up a 8 yard run by Tanner Stevens (Sr. 5-7/148) to score the Ravens’ first touchdown.
Bend would retaliate with another long drive, taking it 70 yards in 9 plays and scoring off Creighton Simmonds’ 2nd touchdown pass, this time to Hunter McDonald (Sr. 6-1/200) who bobbled the football and hauled it in near the rear left pylon.
Ridgeview would take over and attempt to narrow the gap but Jordan Neelon (Sr. 5-10/170) picked off Jacob Johnson to give the Lava Bears the ball at their own 33, which they turned into a touchdown off Simmonds’ third touchdown toss to Austin Adye (Jr. 6-4/210).
The last gasp would come from Ridgeview on the back of a 9 play, 68 yard drive that came to an end right at the end of the game, as Jacob Johnson would connect with Derrick Brown (Sr. 5-7/117) to close the gap to 42-13, where the game ended.
Creighton Simmonds would be named the ‘Sun Mountain Fun Center Player of the Game,’ and owed Bend’s success to Matt Craven stressing control of the clock.
“Coach talks about it all the time, if we play our game…and if we run the ball well, mix it with pass, we’ll really open it up,” said Simmonds.
Bend improves to 5-1 on the year, remaining undefeated in league play at 2-0.
The Bears travel to Hillsboro Oct. 17 to take on the 5-1 Liberty Eagles, who clobbered Milwaukie on Friday 63-2.
Ridgeview’s overall record falls to 3-3, going 0-1 as league play begins, and next travel to take on the Summit Storm who defeated the Redmond Panthers Friday 42-22.
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