Photo by: Doug Rogers/Special to the Journal Scene

Ashley Ridge kick returner Frankie Heyward fights for extra yards on a return during last week’s 24-21 victory over Stratford.

The Ashley Ridge football team hits the road Friday for its first semi-final playoff appearance.

The Swamp Foxes (10-3) will play at Greenwood (12-1) in the semi-finals of the Division 2-AAAA state football playoffs. The winner of the game will advance to the state championship game at noon Dec. 3 at Clemson’s Memorial Stadium.

Greenwood, the Region ?-AAAA champion and No. 2 seed for the division, represents a big test for Ashley Ridge, the Region 8-AAAA champion and No. 3 seed.

The Eagles have outscored their opponents 465 points to 158 this season. The only blemish on the team’s record is a 47-21 loss to Gaffney in the second week of the season.

The Eagles feature a balanced offense that has put more than 40 points up on the board six times this season.

“Greenwood has tremendous team speed,” Ashley Ridge coach Kenny Walker said. “Offensively they can get on the edges quickly and they have a couple of receivers who can go up and get the ball and run away from you after they catch it. This game will be a big challenge for our defense.”

The team’s lowest-scoring effort is its 17-0 victory over Easley last week in the second round.

The shutout was the fourth of the season for a tough Eagles’ defense that also held Boiling Springs, Westside and T.L. Hanna scoreless. Greenwood held three other opponents to a single touchdown this season.

“Defensively they are not the biggest team that we have seen, but I would say they are probably the fastest,” Walker said. “They find the ball and gang tackle well. Our offensive line will have to be on its game Friday.”

Ashley Ridge has outscored its opponents 392-302. The Swamp Fox offense has put more than 40 points on the scoreboard four times this year.

Ashley Ridge avenged one of its losses last week when it handed Stratford a 24-21 loss in round two. The Swamp Foxes other losses came to Goose Creek and Wando. The Warriors defeated Ashley Ridge during a week in which the Swamp Foxes’ starting quarterback was injured.

One of Ashley Ridge’s strengths has also been a balanced offense. All the key players for the unit had solid games last week, but the pressures of a semi-final game tend to affect teams with less playoffs experience more than teams used to the atmosphere.

Greenwood defeated North Augusta 34-21 in the semi-finals last year before falling 42-10 to Northwestern in the championship game.

Walker says the keys for his team Friday are to not give up big plays, to move the sticks and to take advantage of any opportunity to force a turnover.

Contact Roger Lee @ 873-9424 ext. 213 or rlee@journalscene.com

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