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published: Friday, November 28, 2008
Knights use the 'Wright' stuff; now it's Apopka
FRANK JOLLEY
Sports Editor
CLERMONT -- For Jeremy Wright, Friday was another day at the office, but it almost wasn't.
The East Ridge High School senior was an unknown factor for the Knights as they prepared for a Class 6A-Region 1 semifinal matchup against Winter Park because of a deep thigh bruise he suffered in the Knights' regular-season finale against Ocoee.
Wright hadn't practiced in the two weeks since that game and not even coach Bud O'Hara knew if he would have the services of the state's top running back for his team's biggest game of the season.
It didn't take long for Wright to show his coach and teammates he was ready against the Wildcats, scampering 35 yards for a touchdown on the game's fifth play and finishing with 180 yards in East Ridge's 23-7 win. The win sets up a rematch with Class 6A-District 4 rival Apopka Friday in the regional semifinals.
Apopka advanced with a 41-21 win against Orlando Timber Creek.
East Ridge beat Apopka 21-13 on Oct. 31.
"Jeremy is the best running back I've ever coached," O'Hara said. "He's so talented and so humble and never stops trying to get better. We didn't even know how much he would play against Winter Park, but he never lost confidence that he would be ready to go."
Wright helped to put the Wildcats away with three scores and 155 yards in the first half. In addition to his opening score, Wright also had scoring runs of 24 and 30 yards.
He played only three quarters, sitting virtually the entire fourth quarter with East Ridge comfortably ahead 23-0. While Wright had forged a lead for East Ridge, the Knights' defense made the advantage more than enough to standup.
Winter Park (6-5) threatened to score on its opening drive, following Wright's first score, and appeared to turned a 34-yard completion from Sam Richardson to tight end Mike Boles into an apparent score. An illegal motion penalty, however, nullified the score and on third and goal from East Ridge's 18-yard line, Richardson threw an interception to Anthony Ornes, who returned the ball to Winter Park's 42-yard line.
It was the only time Winter Park would get inside East Ridge's red zone until the final minute of the game, when the Wildcats managed an ornamental touchdown.
"Our goal every week is to get better than we were the week before and our defense did that this week," O'Hara said. "We've got to better, though, if we want to keep playing. That's the way it works this time of the year. They've got (quarterback) Jeremy Gallon back and he's going to make a big difference."
Gallon was injured early in the teams' first meeting this season.
East Ridge dominated both sides of the ball, limiting Zee Ware, Winter Park's junior running back, to 100 yards on 19 carries. Thirty of Zee's total came on his final carry of the night, against East Ridge's second-team defense.
The Knights limited Winter Park to 116 yards of total offense. Richardson completed 2 of 10 passes for 15 yards -- none in the second half, as the East Ridge defenders loaded up against the pass.
East Ridge had 314 yards of offense, led by Wright's 192 yards of total offense -- including 12 receiving yards. Quarterback Tyler Dye completed 6 of 13 passes for 61 yards and receiver Jesse Arnold had four receptions for 49 yards.
With East Ridge leading 20-0, placekicker Alex Lopez closed out the Knights scoring the fourth quarter with a 22-yard field goal.
"I'm blessed to be the coach of this football team," O'Hara said. "These kids have worked so hard all season to become a football team. It's not me, though, who is responsible for this. Jeremy and the rest of his teammates are not responsible, and our coaching staff is not responsible."
O'Hara paused for a moment to allow his players to grasp what he was saying before he completed his statement.
"He is responsible," O'Hara said, pointing to the heavens, as his players shouted their approval. "He is the person who got Jeremy's thigh ready to go. He got all of us ready to go. And we need His help to get us ready for Apopka."
