Ragsdale

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=9943724&BRD=1332&PAG=461&dept_id=414365&rfi=8

I know you boys want to read up all you can on the best 3A ream in the state. I'm more than happy to oblige.

edit - well I guess the link won't work unless you register so it's cut and paste time



Baker, Ragsdale primed for run at state crown




By: Jeff Sikes , STAFF SPORTS WRITER 08/03/2003




Many football coaches assert that a winning tradition is worth a couple of points on the scoreboard before a game even begins.
At Ragsdale, a team stocked with as many athletes as a grocery store has milk, the Tigers don't need the extra advantage that tradition gives them, but they have it anyway.
"I think you win a few games every year just based on what you've done before," said coach Tommy Norwood, who is 57-8 in his five seasons at Ragsdale.


"When you get into a tight game in the fourth quarter, some teams play expecting to win, while others are out there hoping to win. Hoping can lead to mistakes. Here at Ragsdale, we don't ever hope to win, we always expect to win."
The Tigers should have a couple of good reasons to expect victory this season. Coming off an 11-1 campaign, in which they completed their second consecutive 7-0 run through the Tri-County Conference, Ragsdale ran roughshod over its foes. The Tigers tasted defeat just once in 2002, falling in the second round of the 3A playoffs to Mooresville.
Fourteen lettermen return for Ragsdale, including six starters on offense and five on defense.
Tough running back and touchdown maker Toney Baker returns for his junior season. The 5-10, 218-pound breakaway back is one of the state's most effective players running the football. In 12 games in 2002, Baker rushed for 2,007 yards. More impressive was that he posted that gaudy total on just 185 carries, 32 of which went for touchdowns.
"(Toney's) probably one of the best players in the state, if not the whole country," said Norwood. "He should be right around those numbers again this year with the offensive line we've got."
Though Ragsdale will be breaking in a new quarterback, senior Justin Caudle (who moves from defensive line), the Tigers are beefy up front, and that should make both Baker and Caudle's jobs easier.
Senior Jon Terry will anchor a starting offensive line that should provide more than adequate protection for Caudle and spacious running lanes for Baker to scoot through. The six-foot-three, 314-pound Terry has already committed to Duke.
"We've got Toney and a lot of good returning offensive lineman, so we're pretty stacked on offense," said Caudle. "I think that's one of the best things about Ragsdale. There's a lot of talent and tradition here, and we've always got players willing to step up and take charge."
That should also be the case on defense, as the Tigers return senior defensive lineman and Wake Forest signee Brandon Drumgoole. Coupled with linebacker Zack Talbert, the team's leading tackler with 79, and Ragsdale appears set to make its traditional deep run into the playoffs.
"I think it was a big surprise last year (to lose in the second round), and it's hard to say what happened in that playoff game," said Terry. "That's not going to happen this year. I think we're going to surprise some people. We may have some new faces, but I think we have a chance to go all the way."
Jeff Sikes can be contacted
at 888-3526 or [email protected]


©High Point Enterprise 2003

 

Your gonna send me through all those loops registering to go on some newspaper site? But if its about Crest I guess I can register for their site.

 

There was a nice article about Ragsdale but where was the one on Crest? I thought you said it was about the best 3A team in the state.

 

you're a fast learner for Boiling Springonian

it only stands to reason that the best running back in the state would play for the best team

 

niceeeeee WriteUp................X2 at crest this year (AGAIN) with the RBs but sure the chargers will see The Rags in the playoffs, if They both can win the big ones!

Good Luck gang!

 

Nice little write up on the Tigers.

 

watched the Tigers scrimmage against Greensboro Page tonight on a very wet practice field. It was a defense dominated hard hitting scrimmage. Page looked good - big line - good looking QB.

Ragsdale disappointed me - they moved the ball okay but turned it over four times - Baker got off a few nice runs. Nice big crowd there for a scrimmage - Nobody scored the time I was there.

Ragsdale looked damn good against the run , not so good in the defensive backfield. I was pleased with the defense considering the lost several big hitters from last years team.

The O line was supposed to be a strength this year but they didn't give very good pass protection against a big Page D-Line. But they won't pass alot anyway as long as they have Baker in the backfield.

Can't wait for the real thing next Friday night

 

What up wossa....we scrimmaged your boys from Trinity on Thursday, got a real good look at that all world running back of theirs....they had him at QB. He ran some play action, handoffs and passes...but mostly he just ran the ball after rolling out. He never scored on us but he did pass for a TD on our second defense. Their defense was ok I guess but we manage a few scores with our gangley bunch. Their kicker has some range, he made a few from 50+ during warmups but fell short during live scrimmage from 53. See ya.

 

damn Tank welcome back

Everybody has been looking for you - you hit 1,000 posts on the nose then ran away for the summer. I figured football you bring you out from hiding.

Trinity is good - or they were last year. McCeachin is a great back and since they lost Brett andrews at QB I think they are trying to figure out how many more ways they can get the ball in McCeachin's hands.

Speaking of kickers you have me wondering how Ragsdale's kicker will be this year - they had Pope punting last year and he boomed them whenever he had to punt. and we could always count on PATs and reasonable field goals from our kicker

so how is Morresville looking this year? you guys still have those hard hitting linebackers that killed us last year? Your O-Line blew us off the ball last year too which surprised the hell out of me - any of those guys back?

good luck to your team this year

 

To answer your questions, baseball season ended, vacation rolled around and I had been wasting way too much time on the pc so I decided to give it a rest for a while. I'm looking forward to yucking it up with you guys over at rant n rave this winter once again. As for the football team...we lost around 17 starters (out of 22), our head coach to retirement and our defensive co-ordinator took the Salisbury job last spring. Our top returning halfback failed his grade, so he is done. But....we should be good on defense again this year but not as good on offense. Everybody is talented but young. We open at Charlotte Catholic on Friday 8/22. If we win 7 or 8 and make the big dance I'll be happy...see ya.