Aces Fall to Ridley, 0-2 on Football Season

On the first play from scrimmage Friday night, Lower Merion quarterback Desmond Jennings threw an interception that was returned to the Ace's six. It was all downhill from there.

Ridley scored three plays later and seemingly continued scoring every three plays or so for the remainder of the first half on their way to dealing the Aces their first road loss of the season by a final tally of 33-0. The Green Raiders were buoyed by two interceptions by cornerback Dion Shaw, a virtuosic performance by halfback Shahaid Smith, an excitable home crowd and considerable advantages in size, speed and depth. It was a long night for Lower Merion.

The Green Raiders – last year's state semi-finalists – used their size advantage to deliver blow after blow to the undermanned, but game, Aces. The percussive, concussive wallops couldn't just be heard – or even felt – from the sideline as much as they could be tasted. The Aces hit back though, which likely provoked their tormentors and made the blows all the more severe.

"Last week was worse," said the diminutive but plucky Ellis after being tackled by the neck, then sacked even harder, during one in a series of surely painful hits for him.

"There are plays to be made out there," he added, optimistically.

There weren't. The Raiders defensive line, led by senior Charlie Hart – who stood a head taller than even his own tall teammates – was a stingy gatekeeper. No Ace could pass, or run, through it. Their defense was so impermeable that four yard completions and two yard runs eventually drew fist pumps from the beleaguered Aces sideline. The pressure from the middle, coupled with his quarterback's height, was such that Aces head coach John Rothberg had to build his passing game around sprint outs. Ellis rarely set his feet when he threw, which led to three interceptions. When he did set his feet he was pummeled. There was a downside, sort of, to Raider physicality. A 15–yard pass interference penalty was called.

The Lower Merion defense fared a little better, though given the level of competition, it wasn't readily apparent.

Through the scrums, clusters of violently clashing green and burgundy, Ridley's Smith broke off run after run after run. To the Aces credit, Smith's success wasn't a function of the dominance of the Ridley offensive line (despite an obvious size disadvantage the Lower Merion defensive front more than held their own) or of sloppy tackling (the Aces by and large hung on to the guys they managed to get their hands on) but of the sheer speed and elusiveness of the Raiders back. He was phenomenal. And he was their backup.

"Their starter's injured and missed the game," acknowledged Aces head coach John Rothberg after the game. "We obviously would rather have faced the starter though."

There were a few moments that offered hope to the Aces and their traveling fans. The first came when the PA announced the Phillies were leading the Mets 2-0. The second came when a Green Raider fumble was recovered by Steffen Vestal at the Raider 40 mid-second quarter.

Though they were in a 20-point hole, the sideline perked up. A break! they thought. They watched the offense expectantly, if only we could just get a few long runs – Max Golden gain of zero – well, not a great start but maybe we can find a hole in their secondary. False start, that sets us back, but there's still a chance we pick up this first down. COMPLETION TO THE THIRTY!

The sideline erupted. High fives abounded. They were back in it. But a late holding flag ruined the party. The ball came back, the dream was deferred, and a few minutes later a Green Raider was standing in the endzone, having given his team a 27-0 lead.

Credit where credit's due though: The Aces fought.

"We came out to win this game and we put out a much better effort tonight than last week. If we battle like that every night we'll get some wins," said Rothberg.

"Ridley has a lot of speed though. They're the best."

He was right. The Green Raiders weren't flawless – they put the ball on the ground a few times, they threw an interception, they drew penalties – but they were still great. It was a lesser work of a genius program.

Notes and Anecdotes

-The Aces played the Raiders to a scoreless tie after the half, though the outcome was more owing to Ridley substitutions (guys wearing numbers in the 50's were running the ball) than any courageous stand by Lower Merion.

-Sophomore Ernest Penderton had a series of nice runs on a long Aces drive that ended with Ellis' third interception of the night deep in Ridley territory.

-The Aces' intensity stayed at a fever pitch throughout. After coming out to play the second half, facing a 33-0 deficit, they extorted one another to finish strong, and play physical. "Who's gonna get that crack," one Ace yelled to his teammates, presumably referring to tackles.

-Max Golden made a nice strip with the Raiders threatening to expand their lead in the third. He literally just took the ball from the arms of a Ridley back.