The matchup between No. 4 Pace Academy and No. 8 Wesleyan was lights out – literally.
The start of the game was delayed 20 minutes because the lights at Wesleyan’s Henderson Stadium shut out just before kickoff. But once it got underway, the two went back and forth before Wesleyan pulled away with an 18-9 victory on Friday in a Region 6-AA showdown.
The Wolves (5-0, 2-0) got two rushing touchdowns from Banks Ramsey and a Kevin Stipe interception returned for a touchdown for all the scoring they would need.
The Knights (5-1, 2-1) were held in check for most of the game other than when Deon Jackson broke an 80-yard run for a score in the third quarter.
It was another tight game between the region foes and a fitting encore to last year’s game, which Wesleyan won in overtime.
“It was a four quarter war,” Wolves coach Franklin Pridgen said. “Last year, it was a four-quarter, overtime war. Our kids were ready to play. They were motivated and focused, and honestly they played so far above themselves that I couldn’t be happier.”
For Pridgen, the difference in the game was the Wolves defense, which limited the Knights to just 269 yards of offense and forced three turnovers.
“I thought the way our defensive line played against their huge offensive line was a big difference," Pridgen said. "Our entire defense – they couldn’t get a running game going – and I thought that was an enormous point for them.”
Pace took a 3-0 lead early in the second quarter on Samuel Sloman’s 32-yard field goal, but Wesleyan responded the next possession on Ramsey’s 1-yard run, which brought the score to 6-3 with 7:43 remaining.
Ramsey’s run was set up by Jordan Argilagos’ 66-yard run.
Early in the third quarter, Ramsey scored on another short run, this from 2 yards out, giving the Wolves a 12-3 lead with 9:01 remaining.
Later in the third quarter, Wesleyan took charge of the game when Stipe picked off Gunnor Faulk and returned it 20 yards for the score.
“That was a huge spark in the second half," Pridgen said. "I don’t know if it was a backbreaker for them, but it certainly was a huge lift for us. It gave us the cushion we needed.”
On the next play from scrimmage, Jackson broke his long run for a score to keep hope alive for the Knights, but they didn’t score again.
Argilagos led the Wolves with 124 rushing yards on 17 carries, while Jackson led all rushers with 149 yards on 20 carries.
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Pace Academy 0 3 6 0 – 9
Wesleyan School 0 6 12 0 – 18
P – Samuel Sloman 32 FG
W – Banks Ramsey 1 run (kick failed)
W – Ramsey 2 run (kick failed)
W – Kevin Stipe 20 INT return (pass failed)
P – Deon Jackson 80 run (pass failed)
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