The River Ridge Royal Knights were the 35-25 winner over the Cypress Creek Coyotes when they last played one another back in November of 2022, but their luck changed this time around. The matchup between the two teams wasn't particularly close, with River Ridge falling 31-17. They have now taken an 'L' in back-to-back games.
When it comes to explaining why River Ridge lost on Friday, one person who can't be blamed is Matt Barton. Despite the final result, he rushed for 142 yards while picking up 7.5 yards per carry.
Even if they lost, River Ridge's defensive line still kept up the pressure with three sacks. Leading the way was Bryce Widman and his two sacks.
Cypress Creek got their win on the backs of several key players, but it was Malachi Askin out in front who rushed for 102 yards and two touchdowns. Askin is on a roll when it comes to rushing yards, as he's now rushed for 100 or more in the last four games he's played. Jack Niemann was another key contributor, throwing for 224 yards and two touchdowns.
River Ridge bumped their record down to 4-7 with that defeat, which was their third straight at home. The slump could be explained by some tough opposition over that stretch, namely Cypress Creek, Fivay, and Wiregrass Ranch. As for Cypress Creek, their victory bumped their record up to 9-2.
Both squads will have to hit the road in their upcoming games. River Ridge will face off against Vanguard at 7:30 p.m. on Friday. Vanguard presents a significant challenge as they come into the match much higher ranked than River Ridge in Florida (Vanguard is ranked 50th, while River Ridge is ranked 301st). As for Cypress Creek, they will head out on the road to face off against Zephyrhills at 7:30 p.m. on Friday.
