Defense Wins Games

You have to love the defense that Ragsdale puts on the field. Ten seniors start, several are three year starters. They have size and speed and smarts and a ton of heart. They really play together as one great unit. The front four clogs up the line allowing the linebackers and safeties to make the tackles. Almost every night it’s hard to pick out a “star” on defense because everybody (including reserves) is making plays.

They have great coaching and are very disciplined. And the stats show it with four consecutive shutouts. Including the last three plus quarters of the Person game they haven’t given up a point in over 230 minutes. The yardage stats are pretty good too. They are giving up an average of 147 yards total offense and 5.5 points through nine games. Only 53 yards passing a game and just 94 per game on the ground. They have held two teams to negative rushing yards and have held three teams under 100 yards total (SW Guilford had only 31 total yards). Five times they’ve held teams to six first downs or less. And not counting the Parkland game and yardage (Parkland had big yardage on two drives to end the half and game – but no points) Ragsdale D is only giving up 82 yards a game over the last four.

This defense along with great special teams play is giving the Ragsdale offense great field position. I think I read they are averaging starting around the 45 yard line. Offenses love those short fields.

Look forward to seeing what they do tonight to stop Dickie Cline's running attack at Glenn.