Air or on ground, it did not matter for the Ravens as they controlled both in a convincing 42-0 win over Coventry Friday night.
Ravenna running back Blayre Davis was out to achieve 1000 rushing yards for the season, and ran early often and late to blister the Comet defense for 185 yards and three touchdowns in the victory.
“Ravenna played a tough game against Kent (Roosevelt) last week. They wanted to re-establish themselves,” Coventry coach Jay Newcome said.
The game started off alright for the Comets, as senior defensive lineman Alex Morton intercepted a pass from Ravenna quarterback Josh Checkak. Morton had a nice night for the Comets. He later recorded a sack as well, but Coventry was unable to take advantage of the turnover.
Davis proceeded to rack up yards quickly as he scampered down the sidelines for a 42-yard touchdown run with 5:14 to go to give Ravenna an early 7-0 lead.
Coventry junior quarterback Brandon Burns played the entire game for the first time this season. Senior WR Jeff Walker was injured last week and did not play.
Burns completed a good majority of his pass attempts, but unfortunately three of them were to Ravenna defensive backs.
Intercepting Burns once in the first quarter and twice in the second, the game could have gotten out of hand quickly. But to the credit of the Comet’s defense, they shut down the Ravenna offense after the first two turnovers. However, the third time was a charm for Ravenna when Davis punched it in from seven yards out. Coventry blocked the point after, but it still gave the Ravens a 13-0 lead with 5:19 to go in the second quarter.
A heart-breaking play occurred to end the first half. The Ravens were running a solid two-minute offense, taking the ball down to the eight-yard line. With less than 20 seconds to go, Checkak looked to the middle of the endzone for a receiver, but Coventry senior Billy Johnson was there instead to intercept the pass.
However, Jamiran Mack stripped Johnson of the ball and ran it for the score with only seconds left. The Ravens converted the two-point conversion and took a 21-0 lead into the half.
The second half was more of Davis, as he rushed for this third touchdown, a nine yard burst, and threw a 14-yard strike to boot.
Although Coventry was not able to punch the ball in for a score, they were able to move the ball throughout the night. Senior running back Richard Geiger collected 102 yards on 21 carries. It was his second time over the century mark, the other time coming against Norton in a 14-10 victory.
Geiger had a chance to get the Comets on the scoreboard in the fourth quarter, but lost a fumble at the Ravenna three-yard line.
“He ran hard, kept fighting,” Newcome said. “He’s a great team leader. You hate to see it end with that fumble. I wish he could have stuck it in there.”
With injuries mounting, which even includes kicker Maurice Hernandez who was injured in Coventry’s soccer match Thursday night, Newcome said there were many youngsters who were stepping up to the varsity level.
He said he was happy with the play of freshman wide out and defensive back Brandon Rang, junior lineman Shawn Banner and sophomore wide receiver/defensive back Jack Stover.
Whether or not people are healthy, Coventry will be hosting a Springfield team three years overdue for a win. Newcome knows the team has to be prepared, being one of their two rivalry games, if the Comets expected to come out on top. Game time will be at 7 p.m.
