Rams’ Law shows talent in 56-21 win over Uniontown
Andrew Baugh
Uniontown’s Christian Forsythe (45) makes a cut to try to avoid Ringgold’s Jake Gerard (81) during the second quarter of Friday’s Big Nine Conference game at Ringgold High School in Monongahela.
Ringgold senior Nico Law (4) drops back to pass during Friday’s Big Nine Conference game against Uniontown at Ringgold High School in Monongahela.
Andrew Baugh
Uniontown junior Arian Washington (19) leaps over a few Ringgold players during Friday’s Big Nine Conference game at Ringgold High School in Monongahela. Also in the play are Uniontown seniors Rodney Harris (71) and Darius Pratt (73)
Uniontown senior Lyric Ellis (7) is chased out of the pocket by Ringgold junior Travor Colucci (42) during Friday’s Big Nine Conference game at Ringgold High School in Monongahela.
CARROLL TWP. — Uniontown had hoped to stay off the Nico Law highlight reel this season, but the Ringgold senior showed why he’s considered one of the best quarterbacks in the WPIAL in the Rams’ 56-21 win over the visiting Red Raiders.
Law threw for 149 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 117 yards and two more scores on Friday night as Ringgold improved to 1-1 overall and in the Big 9, while Uniontown fell to 0-2 and 0-2.
“He’s a great athlete,” Red Raiders coach John Fortugna said of Law. “We knew we’d have a problem with him. We keyed him, but he made some great plays for them.”
An early gamble by Fortugna seemed to set the tone for the game. Uniontown faced a fourth-and-1 on its on 29 on its first possession. Fortugna wanted to punt, but his players talked him into going for it.
Uniontown quarterback Lyric Ellis tried to sneak the ball for the yard and seemed to be close to the first-down marker. Officials, however, ruled him just short and Ringgold took over on downs.
Two plays later Law hit Jacob Gerard with a 7-yard touchdown pass and the Rams were in front to stay.
“I went for it because I trust my offense,” Fortugna said. “I said I’ve got a good offensive line, I’m going for it. The kids wanted to go. They said, ‘No coach, don’t punt it.’ So I didn’t. I made a mistake. They stopped us. We gave them good field position and they scored.”
While Uniontown’s offense was stymied on the short-yardage play, it’s defense had its hands full trying to contain the double threat Law presented and the power running of Chacar Berry.
Law broke free for a 53-yard touchdown run on Ringgold’s second possession.
After a sack by the Red Raiders’ Nate Guerriere foiled Ringgold’s next possession, the Red Raiders’ got a big play from Ellis when he scrambled and then hit Phil Mosely with a 53-yard pass to the Ringgold 29. Four plays later, Ellis connected with Guerriere for a 17-yard TD pass on a fourth-and-9 to make it 14-7.
“We thought we were in the game there,” Fortugna said. “We thought we could came back. But, we’ve got to play defense.”
Ringgold only took one play to answer as Berry broke through the middle for a 56-yard touchdown run to give the Rams a 21-7 lead after one quarter.
Ellis then turned in what would’ve been the play of the game when he scrambled, broke downfield and zig-zagged across the field for an 81-yard run, but the play was called back on a holding penalty.
“That was a great play,” Fortugna said. “Lyric is a hard worker for us and he does a great job for us. He’s a big-time player.”
Berry scored again on a 16-yard run in the second quarter and Law tossed a 24-yard touchdown pass to Dalton Holt to give Ringgold a commanding 35-7 halftime lead.
Law and Holt combined again for a 37-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter.
Lorenzo Oden’s four-yard run, set up by Mosely’s 58-yard kickoff return, pulled the Red Raiders within 42-14, but Law’s 45-yard scoring run made it 49-14.
Uniontown tacked on a fourth-quarter touchdown when Jeremy Perkins plunged in from 1 yard out.
Ringgold contained Uniontown running back Arian Washington for the most part, but the junior did ring up 106 yards on 32 carries. Ellis completed 3-of-4 passes for 91 yards.
Berry wound up with 121 yards on eight carries.
“We can’t tackle people. That’s our problem right now,” Fortugna said. “Our tackling is not very good. It’s not that we don’t practice tackling. We do.”
Fortugna admitted that next week’s game against Belle Vernon is a must win for his team.
“It’s at home. Yes, a must,” Fortugna said. “We’ve got to get them ready to play.
“We’re going to work hard. We’re not going to throw the hat in. None of these kids are going to quit. We’re going to take them one by one. Our goal is to get to the playoffs and that’s what we want to do, so we’re going to keep working very hard.”