By Amanda Perkins (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Reeds Spring’s quest for the school’s first state championship came up one game short in a 46-7 loss to Cardinal Ritter.
It is a season the town of Reeds Spring will remember for generations.
“I told the guys how proud of them I am,” said Reeds Spring head coach Andy McFarland. “It’s been a special year. We had an overwhelming show of love and support from our community, over the last month especially, and I’m really proud of what these guys were able to do on their behalf this year. To get to this point is a major accomplishment for our school. It’s the first time any boys team has played for a championship, at all, ever, in our school’s history. Obviously, today’s game did not end the way that we had planned and in the way that we had desired, but with that being said, I couldn’t be more proud of the great group of young men that I have, I couldn’t be more proud of my coaching staff, and I’m so proud to be from Reeds Spring.”
McFarland noted Wolves fans were at Faurot Field at 7:30 am, and the gates didn’t open until 10. “It’s unreal, he said. “It’s amazing to be from a community like that.”
Cardinal Ritter scored the game’s first touchdown at the 7:50 mark of the first quarter with Marvin Burks running the ball in for a one-yard touchdown. Burks added his second touchdown a few minutes later on a nine-yard run to give Cardinal Ritter a 12-0 lead with 3:00 left in the first quarter. Carson Boyd hit Ryan Boyd for a 16-yard touchdown with 4:20 to go in the second quarter pushing Cardinal Ritter’s lead to 20-0.
CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO OF THE GAME
Reeds Spring got some momentum right before the half with Blandy Burrall hitting Jace Bolin for a 30-yard touchdown to cut Cardinal Ritter’s lead to 20-7 heading into the break.
The second half was all Cardinal Ritter with Burks running for two more touchdowns and Fredrick Moore catching two touchdowns.
“They made plays,” said McFarland of the second half. “Offensively, we struggled a little bit, just with the speed of their defensive line and linebackers. The coverage was tight all day and it made things difficult for the quarterback. We have some great receivers, we’ve got an all-state tight end, and we’ve got guys that get wide open all year long. The windows were a lot smaller and Ritter made it really tough.”
McFarland credited his team’s leadership for their successful season.
“It’s been truly an unreal experience,” he said. “Two years (ago), we won three games…one of those wins was a Covid forfeit. We won two games on the field two years ago. And two years later, you’re playing at Mizzou for a state championship, is what I told the team after the game. It doesn’t happen without this group of seniors and their commitment to constantly improving and their commitment to excellence and the leadership that they’ve shown.”
“It’s kind of coach speak,” he added, “but it’s reality: coach-led teams can be good, but player-led teams can be great, and we had a great team this year because of the leadership that came from the locker room.”
Senior Missouri State signee Caden Wiest was one of the Wolves’ leaders.
“It means a lot, saying where we came from,” he said. “Our best year was our freshman year, and we were .500 that year. So, I mean, just to look back at all the work we’ve put in and everything we’ve sacrificed to be here, it means a lot.”
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE GAME
“These guys grew up together,” said McFarland. “Third grade tackle football all the way up, and it’s been mostly the same group of guys the whole time…to see them grow together, and their families have known each other that entire time, that’s the core foundation of that community feel that we have at Reeds Spring and something that we’re really excited and really proud of.
For Cardinal Ritter, Ole Miss commit Marvin Burks picked up 118 yards and 4 touchdowns on 21 carries. Michigan commit Fredrick Moore added two touchdowns on 8 catches for 157 yards. Their quarterbacks combined for 13 of 19 completions, 226 yards and three touchdowns.
For Reeds Spring, running back Preston Blubaugh had 21 carries for 91 yards. Blandy Burall was 11 for 28, passing for 120 yards and one touchdown, but threw two interceptions and was sacked three times. Receiver James Dowdy had 5 catches for 68 yards.
The Wolves end their season with an 11-3 record.
