ORANGE PARK - The Ridgeview High Panthers football team was looking to build a winner after a “Phenomenal off season” as described by second year head coach Cameron Porch.

Keystone Heights coach Chuck Dickinson looked to execute his triple option offense to “near perfection” in order to wear down opponents and win games in the fourth quarter, partly due to a lack of numbers and size on his roster.

“We feel like our players have improved all over the field but especially at our skill positions. We are light years ahead of last season” said Porch, who gets his first win, albeit a preseason game, since taking the Ridgeview job after an 0-10 first season last year.

Ridgeview, led by junior quarterback Tyler Huff and an opportunistic defense, struck fast and furious to defeat the visiting Indians 35-13 in their preseason clash Friday at Ridgeview High School.

On the first play of the game, Keystone Heights tailback Brair Smith caught a pass where he was leveled by cornerback Brandon Thomas and fumbled the ball to give Ridgeview possession at the Keystone 26 yard line. On the Panthers first offensive play, Huff threw a perfect ball to sophomore wide receiver Denali Lindo to give the Panthers a quick 7-0 lead less than one minute into the game.

Keystone Heights would answer back on an apparent 84 yard touchdown run by quarterback Adrian Ciena until a late flag was thrown for an illegal block far away from the action.

“It was either for a clip or blocking a defenseless player; I asked the referee for an explanation but I never got one.” joked Keystone Heights head coach Chuck Dickinson. Unfortunately for the Indians of Keystone then would fumble on the next play and turn the ball back over to the Panthers.

Both teams defenses would step up as the teams would trade punts. Ridgeview’s team strengths for the season seemed to be a deep running back group that can feature as many as five capable impact players. The Panthers would use their “running back by committee” group to match all the way to the Keystone Heights 19 yard line then Huff would find Kiaran Turner in the corner of the endzone to give the Panthers a 14-0 with :30 left in the first quarter.

Keystone Heights would answer the bell with a solid 75 yard drive using their time consuming triple option running attack. The key play of the drive was a third down and 22 yards to go pass completion to Nolan Sapp for a 37 yard gain. Running back Blake Sanders would score three plays later on a three yard run with just five minutes left for the varsity players.

“We have to be able to control the ball and the clock on offense with time consuming drives in order to stay in games; it’s important for use to average 2-3 first downs per drive which is what the triple option is designed to do” said Dickinson.

Turner would strike a second time with a 45 yard run to the two yard line and fellow running back Trent Coleman would score on the next play to up the lead to 21-7 with 3:44 left.

Keystone Heights would fumble the ball back to Ridgeview and Huff would find Damien Toney in the corner on another beautifully thrown ball to score their second touchdown in two minutes for a 28-7 lead. The theme would continue as the Indians again would fumble the ball (their fourth tournover of the half) and Panther running back Rolando Grey would score on the first play after the turnover to up the lead to 28 points with :54 remaining. Ciena would find Blake Sanders on a 15 yard touchdown pass with four seconds left to end the evening for the varsity players with Ridgeview victorious at 35-13.