"We've told the kids all year long to play to their potential, and against Garnet Valley, that's the first time we played a full four quarters all year," Ridley coach Dennis Decker said. "I've been saying we have the talent. We had to have the right mindset. We're getting that now. We are peaking at the right time."
Ridley (9-0, 8-0 in the Central League) is the No. 1 team in District 1 Class AAAA. If the Green Raiders beat Upper Darby on Friday, Ridley will be the No. 1 seed in the 16-team district field, with homefield advantage throughout the playoffs until the title game, which is played at a neutral site.
"We're closer to where we want to be as a team," starting two-way senior lineman Dave Jankauskas said. "I like the attitude right now. My only concern is cleaning up our mistakes. We had two touchdowns called back against Garnet Valley, and they're all correctable. We're coming together at the right time. From a month ago, we've come a long way as a team. We're not playing as 11 individuals. We can go far, if everyone plays together."
The play of senior tailback Shahaid Smith will make Ridley that much more formidable as the district playoffs approach. Over the last six quarters, the 5-7, 160-pound lightning-fast Smith has rushed for six touchdowns and 321 yards. Why six quarters? Because Decker pulled Smith at halftime against Radnor on Oct. 22.
This season, Smith has rushed for 1,241 yards and 19 TDs, 18 coming on the ground.
