Lorenzo Stewart takes off around the left side of the East Ridge line for a 31-yard touchdown, Friday night in the Pioneers’ win over Brainerd.
Three extra points made all the difference, as East Ridge edged Brainerd, 21-18, Friday night at Raymond James Stadium/Shanks Field.
It was a special night at the school as dozens of former Pioneer football players were on hand for the first game at the newly re-built Raymond James Stadium. In addition, the athletic facilities at the school were renamed to honor Mac Franklin and Ed Woodham, two legends on Bennett Road.
When Lorenzo Stewart broke a few tackles and scored from 31-yards around the left side of the Panther defense on the Pioneers’ opening possession, it looked like it might be a cake walk for Coach Tim James’ crew.
The PAT by C.J. Bond gave the Orange and White a lead it would never relinquish.
Brainerd (0-4) came storming back, answering on a 13-yard pass from Xiyeer Lattimore to Jesse Walker. The two-point conversion fell short, a portent of things to come.
The Pioneers mounted an 11-play, 61-yard drive with Stewart scoring from four yards out with 6:46 left in the quarter. Bond’s second PAT extended the East Ridge lead to 14-6.
Brainerd took advantage of great field position late in the second half. Starting on the East Ridge 20, it too the Panthers three plays to pull within two points, as Walker hauled in his second touchdown pass of the game from 16 yards out.
On the conversion, Lattimore’s pass fell through the hands of Walker and the Pioneers clung to a 14-12 halftime lead.
Halfway through the third quarter East Ridge mounted a 45-yard scoring drive, capped off by an Eric Bennett keeper from four yards out. Bond’s extra point was true and East Ridge led 21-12 at the end of three quarters.
However, Stewart sustained a leg injury on the drive and would not play the rest of the game.
It appeared that East Ridge had both hands on the wheel and was headed for certain victory. With just over five minutes left in the game, the Pioneers had the ball deep in Brainerd territory. But, a penalty negated a 12-yard run and an exchange on a hand-off was fumbled, fortunately recovered by the Orange and White.
On a third-and-long play from Brainerd’s 30-yard line, Jalen Pinkerton intercepted an errant Bennett pass and raced 70 yards with 2:39 left in the game. Once again, a two-point conversion attempt failed and the Pioneers prevailed, 21-18.
“We made a lot of mistakes and had way too many penalties,” said Pioneer Coach James after the game. “We’ve got to refocus during our off week and get back to some basics.”
East Ridge had seven penalties for 69 yards. The Pioneers fumbled four times and recovered all of them.
East Ridge had 254 total yards to Brainerd’s 175.
Russell finished the night with 73 yards on 11 carries.
The win improved East Ridge’s record to a perfect 4-0 on the season. The Pioneers will host Signal Mountain on Sept. 22.
