Ridgeland smashes Washington in playoff opener

ROSSVILLE, Ga. (WRCB) -- Darrell Bridges rushed for 202-yards and five touchdowns as?host Ridgeland ran over visiting?Booker T. Washington 45-21 in the opening round of the GHSA Class AAAA playoffs.

"Our coaches did a great job making halftime adjustments and our players did a great job on defense. That team can hurt you," said Ridgeland Head Coach Mark Mariakis.

Mariakis said the plan was to hang around and then outlast Washington (8-3) in the second half. It was a plan the Panthers (10-1) executed to perfection, turning a three point halftime lead into a 10-point?advantage?on the opening drive of the third quarter with Bridges' third touchdown.

He carried the load the rest of the way.

"We're not shocked, I hope nobody else is shocked because he's been doing it all year long," said Mariakis. "We're gonna do what we do well. We're gonna be physical and run the football and if somebody beats us while we're doing that, then hats off to them."

The Panthers will host LaGrange?next week?in round number two. LaGrange beat Chestatee 59-46 in round one.

Source: http://www.wrcbtv.com/story/20123921/ridgeland-smashes-booker-t-in-ghsa-opener

Alex Morgan Misty May Treanor Lolo Jones Aly Raisman Marvin Hamlisch Megan Rossee NASA