AA football: Ridgway, Flathead defense face huge test at Bozeman
Jacob Ridgway stands out on the practice field.
Although on this day, it’s mostly because of the t-shirt and walking boot he’s wearing.
The Flathead senior linebacker is not expected to miss any time with a foot injury — “it’s football,” he said of his ailment — and that’s a good thing for the Braves and their stingy defense, which will be challenged tonight against a bruising Bozeman offense.
“They’ve got talent all over the place,” Braves head coach Kyle Samson said of the 3-1 Hawks.
“They’re very well coached and they’re physical. We’ve got to match their physicality.”
Bozeman represents maybe the biggest test of the season for Flathead, both figuratively and literally. The Hawks feature a pair of bruising running backs in seniors Balue Chapman (6-foot-3, 195 pounds) and Trace Bradshaw (6-foot-4, 225 pounds), and return their entire offensive line from a season ago.
For the undersized Ridgway (5-9, 170) and his teammates, facing a stout rushing attack is nothing new.
“We’ve seen all the good running backs already in the AA,” Ridgway said. “We saw (Great Falls C.M. Russell’s Andrew) Grinde and Helena High’s running back (Nick Van Horssen). This week is nothing we haven’t seen yet.”
The Braves defense is a big part of the team’s revival in 2015, allowing just over 14 points per game one year after getting gouged for an average of 28.5 points in a 3-7 season. But Bozeman boasts a truly two-dimensional attack led by senior quarterback DJ Perdaems, who has thrown for more than 150 yards in each of the Hawks’ first four games.
“They’re a really good team, they really are,” Ridgway said. “Their passing attack is better than most teams and their quarterback is better than most quarterbacks. And they definitely have good running backs. (Chapman) can run the ball, he’s a big kid, and (Bradshaw), he’ll go right through you.”
Ridgway anchors a group of linebackers that continues to be without junior Jonas Nyman, who was hurt on the opening kickoff the Braves’ Sept. 11 win over Great Falls. Nyman is not expected to return this season.
Still, Samson is confident in Ridgway and the group around him.
“(Ridgway)’s the leader of our defense,” Samson said. “He’s a tough kid. He’s not afraid of nothing. He knows a lot of football and knows what offenses are going to do against him. He’s made a huge impact on our defense the last two years and he’s had a great senior year so far.”
“It doesn’t really matter what the size of someone is, it’s what they’ve got inside of them,” Samson continued.
“Jacob’s a guy that’s got a huge heart and he plays a lot bigger than 5-foot-10, 170. He’s out there flying around and making hits.”
The coaches rely on Ridgway’s football instincts to keep the Braves defense in the right spots, something Samson and his staff have drilled extensively this week in preparation for the Hawks.
“We’ve got to be disciplined and we’ve got to align correctly,” Samson said. “It sounds easy but it’s not. (Bozeman) gives you a lot of formations and different looks so that’s the biggest thing we’re talking about this week.”
The Hawks won their first three games convincingly before a 17-16 loss last week against Helena Capital.
Bozeman and Flathead are two of five 3-1 teams in Class AA. The matchup is a challenge — an opportunity — the Braves are relishing.
“I think (this win) would be big,” Samson said. “This is why you coach and this is why you play. You want to go out there and play the teams that are up there at the top.”
“It’s definitely fun when we can beat teams but I like competition,” Ridgway said. “I want to play the big dogs. I want to play the best teams at (Class) AA and that’s what we’re going to do.”
The Braves and Hawks are scheduled to kick off at 7 p.m. at Van Winkle Stadium in Bozeman. The game can be heard on KGEZ radio (AM 600).