RINGGOLD, Ga. - This was supposed to be the first real test of the season for the fifth-ranked Ridgeland High School football team.
While the Panthers were forced to play four full quarters in Friday night's Region 6-AAAA showdown at Jeff Sims Field, they had aced the exam by halftime on their way to a 35-14 victory over Heritage.
Behind its dominating defense and thunder-and-lightning backfield, Ridgeland (7-0, 3-0) rolled to a 21-0 lead after two quarters. The Panthers outrushed the Generals 312 yards to 49 in the game and applied constant defensive pressure while handing Heritage its first loss in eight games this season, including four in region play.
"We came out with a lot of confidence," said senior fullback Jalyn Shelton, who had 129 yards and three touchdowns on 30 bruising carries. "Both teams competed hard, and it was an overall good game. Our line goes 100 percent every play, and they made it happen tonight."
The Panthers set the tone with the game's first drive, an 80-yard, 12-play masterpiece that was kept alive on a 22-yard pass from Tanner Hill to Stephon Walker on fourth-and-10 at the Heritage 33. Two plays later, Shelton rambled into the end zone from the 3-yard line.
Heritage moved the ball on its first possession as well, picking up a pair of first downs on the ground, but quarterback Blake Bryan missed Luke Grant when he was wide open on a first-down streak and the Generals stalled. Ridgeland then set sail on another 80-yard drive that ended three minutes into the second quarter when Markeith Montgomery went off right tackle for a 10-yard touchdown run.
Moments later, Shawn Wilson intercepted a third-down pass by Bryan. Two plays later, Montgomery showcased his sprinter's speed with an 81-yard touchdown run to set up a stunning 21-0 lead.
"We knew it would happen if we executed right," said Montgomery, who had 121 yards on just eight carries. "The guys up front just opened up the gaps, and I took them."
Heritage had a shot to keep it close just before halftime, getting a short punt, a Ridgeland personal foul - one of several in the game - and a Bryan-to-Grant 9-yard pass to reach the 7. However, Montgomery knocked down a third-down pass, and Grant's double-reverse pass on fourth down had no chance as an all-out blitz got to him.
"That play at the end of the first half, to put pressure on them and keep them from scoring, was huge," Ridgeland coach Wesley Tankersley said. "Our defense has played great all year. I hate we gave up 14 points, but we played well before that. Our defensive line has played well all year, and they more than held their own tonight."
The Panthers put the game away on their first drive of the second half, covering 83 yards on the ground in 14 plays. Shelton, a Naval Academy recruit, carried the final five plays and scored from a yard out to set up a 28-0 lead.
The game turned sloppy in the final quarter, with Ridgeland netting nearly 100 yards in penalties. Heritage spoiled the shutout with a Bryan-to-Grant 16-yard touchdown pass with 8:30 to play, but Ridgeland answered right back, with Shelton again scoring from a yard out.
"We had some dumb penalties at the end, but overall I thought we played outstanding," Tankersley said. "Both Markeith and Jalyn had great nights. Markeith had the big plays and Jalyn was just a hammer all game long. He was going to get 4 or 5 yards every play. Our line, with as many new guys as we have this year, have played really, really well."
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6296. Follow him on Twitter @youngsports22.