2016 Week Three - Temple vs Cedar Ridge

Attached is the video of this adventure:

I went to Wildcat Stadium in Temple, Texas for the game between Temple and Cedar Ridge.  The Wildcats were 2-1, having lost their last game 26-20 to Waco Midway.  Coach Scott Stewart’s team is currently ranked #6 in Texas 5A football.  He is in his first year as the head coach of Temple, having served as defensive coordinator the past two season under coach Mike Spradlin.

Coach Shawn Bell is in his first year at Cedar Ridge and brought in a team with a 3-0 record.  The Raiders are currently ranked #19 in 6A football and are leading in their district.  They went 10-2 last year under coach Todd Ford and are hoping for more this year.

This wass a non-district game between two teams who think they can make it to Jerry’s World in December.  I stopped off in Belton for some BBQ earlier today.  Let me tell you about it.

The Barbecue

So if I’m going to be in the Temple/Belton area, then I need to find a barbecue joint.  I got on the google and up popped a list of possibilities.  One that caught my eye was Miller’sSmokehouse in Belton.  They were rated #11 in one of the Texas Monthly lists of the top 50 barbecue places in the state.  Sounds good to me, let’s give it a try.

Located at 208 North Penelope Street, Miller’s is a classic Texas dive: simple and unpretentious.  Out back is an array of pits where the sweet alchemy of heat, smoke, and time do incredible things to meat.  Their moist brisket was fabulous: great bark, deep smoky flavor, tender and juicy.  The pork ribs were also excellent.  Meaty, rich smoky flavor, and a peppery bark that added an extra zing.  They had two kinds of sauces on the table, a sweet, ketchup based sauce and a thinner, but spicier, vinegar based sauce.  These were both good, but totally not needed, just a nice compliment to the barbecue.

Moist and tender brisket

Peppery bark added an extra zing

Service was a little slow, but that gave me time to interact with their friendly staff.  I had a wonderful conversation with a gentleman named Armando. As a member of the Texas BBQ Brotherhood, he was quick to recommend other barbecue joints and gave me tremendous insights on some of the various places in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area.  Armando and the staff can be rightfully proud of the barbecue served at Miller’s.  I give them my highest rating: two Hook ‘Ems!

Armando of Miller's Smokehouse

The Game

Temple received the opening kick-off.  They went three and out and had to punt.  Cedar Ridge started on their 40 yard line.  The moved into Wildcat territory, with a first down on the 28.  They were pushed back 15 yards due to a penalty.  Quarterback Garrett Sharp ran for 13.  On third and 10, running back CJ Rittenhouse picked up the first down on the Temple 11.  On the next play, Rittenhouse scored to make it 7-0 at the 7:11 mark in the first quarter.

The teams traded possessions.  After intercepting a long pass, Cedar Ridge had a first down on their 22.  Sharp made some good runs and passes to move the Raiders past midfield.  A personal foul on Temple gave Cedar Ridge a first down on the 36. Needing five yards on fourth down, Sharp connected with Grant McCartney for a first down.  Sharp ran to the 5 for first and goal as the first quarter ended.  Rittenhouse carried down to the two, then Sharp scored on a quarterback sneak to extend the lead to 14-0.

Temple returned the ensuing kick-off to their 32.  Jemiyah Franklin busted through the Cedar Ridge defense on a 68 yard scoring run.  The extra point cut the lead in half at 14-7 with 11:29 to play in the second quarter.

Cedar Ridge returned the kick-off to the 28 and moved to the 40.  Sharp hit tight end David Walker over the middle.  As the big guy rumbled down the field, Temple safety Ben Norman tomahawked the ball out of Walker’s hands.  Temple recovered the fumble on their four yard line.

The Wildcats picked up a first down to get of the shadows of their own goal posts.  On third and 6, Reid Hesse dropped off a pass to Franklin who broke down the sideline for a big gain.  The penalty for a horse collar tackle added fifteen yards to the play.  Temple moved into the Raiders red zone.  Facing fourth and 3, Hesse was sacked and Temple turned the ball over on downs.

Cedar Ridge drove the ball into Temple territory.  Sharp ran to his right, then cut back to pick up a first down on third and three.  Jaylen Ellis scored on a jet sweep, but the touchdown was negated by a holding penalty.  The Raiders then started moving backwards.  A collision in the backfield lost five yards.  Sharp threw long on third and 25, but the pass swatted away in the end zone.  The Raiders pooch kick traveled seven yards.

With less than a minute left before half time, Temple started from their 30.  Hesse completed several passes to D’yonte Heckstall to move the Wildcats.  After picking up a first down on the Raider 18, Temple attempted a 35 yard field goal with four seconds left.  The kick was no good and the half ended with the Raiders in control at 14-7.

On the kick-off to start the third quarter, a Temple player was called for an unsportsmanlike penalty and ejected from the game.  When the penalty yardage was added to the end of the return, Cedar Ridge started from the Wildcat 36.  The Raiders used the same formula that had been successful in the first half: pound the Temple defense with runs by CJ Rittenhouse.  He scored from 10 yards out to make the score 21-7. 

After the two teams traded possessions, Temple began a drive from their 25 yard line.  Alternating carries between Jemiyah Franklin and Jy’quez Webster and passes from Hesse, the Wildcats drove deep into Raider territory.  Franklin scored on a nifty run from 14 yards out.  The extra point closed the gap to 21-14 with 0:21 left in the third quarter. 

The Raiders returned the kick-off to their 40 and drove into the Wildcats end of the field.  Facing fourth and four, Sharp hit Alejandro Iwabuchi on a pass in the flat.  He picked up a block and made a nice move down the sideline for a critical first down.  After a holding penalty nullified a touchdown run by Sharp, he scrambled on third and 11 to keep the play alive, then found Iwabuchi all alone in the corner of the end zone.  The scoring pass and extra point extended the Cedar Ridge lead to 28-14.

Alejandro Iwabuchi catches winning touchdown pass

 

Temple could get no closer.  They hoped Franklin could find another miracle, but the Raider defense bottled him up.  The Wildcats remaining drives either ended in punts or they turned the ball over on downs.  Cedar Ridge fed the Wildcats a steady diet of runs by Rittenhouse to wind down the clock.  The Raiders rode home to Round Rock with a 28-14 victory in their pocket.

Jemiyah Franklin picked up 163 yards on 25 carries for Temple, the big one being the 68 yard score in the second quarter.  The Wildcats fell to 2-2 with the loss.  CJ Rittenhouse pounded out 153 yards and scored twice for Cedar Ridge.  Garrett Sharp ran for one touchdown and threw for another.  Cedar Ridge begins district play next week with a 4-0 record.