Tigers snap Heritage win streak, Crisp gets first win as Ringgold coach

BY JEFF CATE (TEAM FYN SPORTS CONTRIBUTOR)

(Catoosa Co.) – Nothing like going into a hostile environment against your county rival in your head coaching debut, but new Ringgold head coach Austin Crisp did that and his Tigers defeated the Heritage Generals 21-12 at Jeff Sims Field on Friday night.

Ringgold let everyone know what to expect on the first series with Heritage getting the ball first. Logan Moore jumped in front of a Brady Chandler pass and returned it for a touchdown and an early 7-0 lead less than 2 minutes into the game, setting off a frenzy in the visitors stands where the blue clad Ringgold nation jumped to their feet. Moore, a sophomore, would get another interception in the first quarter that was dominated by the Tigers defense.

“The pick 6 set the tone I felt. Once we got that and the second pick, we felt like we were in control” said Crisp, who served as offensive coordinator for Ringgold under former head coach Robert Akins.

 

Another sophomore for the Tigers, running back Haddon Fries, showed his speed off in the 2nd quarter with a 40-yard run to get Ringgold inside the red zone. QB Garrett Edgar ended the drive, finding Taylor Pierce on a quick pitch and catch to push the RHS lead to 14-0 with about 5 mins left in the 2nd quarter. Heritage was able to get a nice drive going late in the 2nd, getting inside the red zone. Chandler just missed Max Owens in the back corner of the end zone that would have cut the RHS lead in half, which set up a field goal attempt to try to get some momentum on the Generals side. Speaking of General’s, one of General Robert Neyland’s game maxims say, “stress the kicking game, here’s where the breaks are made”. Well Ringgold showed the importance of that by blocking the FG attempt and taking that 14-0 lead they had to the locker room.

The first 8 minutes of the 3rd quarter didn’t have much going on, until Fries broke off an 11-yard touchdown run thanks to huge hole that opened up by his offensive line and Ringgold went up 21-0 with 3:19 left in the quarter, a lead they would take into the 4th quarter. Fries ended the night with 191 yards rushing and the touchdown in his first varsity start.

EK Slaughter’s Generals made the game interesting in the 4th getting 2 Cody Bryan touchdown receptions. But Heritage was not able to connect on the PAT’s after the touchdowns, putting them in a 21-12 hole vs. 21-14 and a chance to tie the game. Any hope was lost as Ringgold recovered an onside kick with 2:33 left. The Tigers were able to run out the clock and get the victory, ending the 3-game winning streak that Heritage was on and getting Ringgold their first win at their rival since 2015.

Ringgold (1-0) has a little time to celebrate this win with an open date next week before taking on Northwest Whitfield in the Tigers’ home opener on September 1st. Heritage (0-1) looks to bounce back and get their first win of 2023 as they welcome East Hamilton to town. The Hurricanes defeated Hixson 40-16 in their week 1 matchup, which was also the head coaching debut of new East Hamilton head coach Aaron Nance.

Follow Jeff on “X” at @TheJeffCate.