When a big play was needed Friday night, Alonzo Russell was there to make it for the East Ridge Pioneers.
Dedicating the sports complex behind East Ridge High School - including Shanks Field and rebuilt Raymond James Stadium - in honor of Mack Franklin and Ed Woodham, the Pioneers had to outlast a feisty and opportunistic Brainerd Panthers team that had the home fans sweating it out until the final minute.
A big first-down run by Russell, the versatile junior, provided the clinching play in a 21-18 victory.
On the one hand, you'd have to say kicker C.J. Bond was the difference, as he converted all three of his point-after-touchdown tries for East Ridge while kicker-less Brainerd went for two points after each of its three touchdowns and failed to convert every time.
But Brainerd did not have the football much in the second half - and indeed did not have an offensive play in East Ridge territory in the second half. But a 70-yard interception return by Jayleme Pinkerton with just 2:39 to play left fans thunderstruck, as the Pioneers were successfully killing the clock after a fourth-down stand.
"I really wish I had that play back," said East Ridge coach Tim James, who was more relieved than thrilled to be 4-0.
"We had a lot of penalties, made a lot of mistakes tonight," James added. "But I take nothing away from the job Coach (Tyrus) Ward has done over there at Brainerd. They came over here and played their tails off."
"But (Russell) had one big night," James agreed.
Teammate Lorenzo Stewart had most of the early laurels, however, scoring the Pioneers' first two touchdowns on runs of 31 and 4 yards. The Panthers (0-4) answered each time, as big received Jesse Walker pulled in passes of 13 and 16 yards to make the halftime margin the two converted PATs.
But with 5:10 to go in the third quarter, Stewart landed awkwardly on a run and collapsed in agony, dropping the football. But a teammate pounced on it, making it just one of four East Ridge fumbles on the night that the Pioneers recovered themselves.
Later in the quarter, a way-back sack left the Pioneers with a third-and-goal from the 34-yard line. A third-down heave was grabbed by Russell for a 30-yard gain, and Bennett went the final 4 yards himself on fourth down.
Russell had 11 carries for 73 yards for the Pioneers and caught five passes for an additional 44 yards. James Williams led Brainerd with 68 yards rushing.
As part of the halftime festivities, Hamilton County Commissioner Tim Boyd made good on his promise of matching the first $50,000 raised by the East Ridge Alumni and Suppporters Associaton for the stadium field house out of his discretionary fund.
Contact David Jenkins at sports@timesfreepress.com.