Ramsby, Davis Lead Colerain past Pickerington Central

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Written by

Kevin Goheen

Enquirer contributor

As deep as the Colerain football program is the Cardinals weren’t their whole self last season after losing quarterback Alfred Ramsby and running back Chris Davis to knee injuries.

Ramsby and Davis are back this year for their senior seasons and Colerain looked very whole because of it Saturday.

Ramsby rushed for 120 yards and one touchdown on 17 carries while Davis added 35 yards and the go-ahead touchdown in the third quarter as the Cardinals beat Pickerington Central 28-15 in the Skyline Crosstown Showdown at Nippert Stadium.

Colerain is ranked No. 2 in the Enquirer’s Division I preseason coaches’ poll.
Colerain outgained Pickerington Central, last year’s Division I state runner-up, 368-294 in a game that featured four lead changes and neither team led by more than one touchdown until Colerain’s DeTuan Smith scored on an 18-yard run with 3:32 remaining to provide the final points.

Smith, who was named Colerain’s MVP of the game, rushed for 92 yards and also blocked a punt in the second quarter that set the Cardinals up at the Pickerington Central 28-yard line trailing 8-7. Colerain regained the lead on a 7-yard touchdown run by fullback Jackson Sorn. 

Sorn had 94 yards on 17 carries as the Cardinals utilized all of their triple-option weapons.

“It was such a back-and-forth game and in this heat I was so proud of the kids and the way we grinded and battled,” said Colerain coach Tom Bolden. “It’s huge having (Ramsby and Davis) back. Chris did to his knee what Willis McGahee did; he dislocated and tore everything in there. To see him back doing what he’s doing is absolutely phenomenal. LA (Ramsby) is the same way.”

Pickerington Central lost in the Crosstown Showdown for the second year in a row. The Tigers lost to Moeller 14-0 in last year but returned just four starters from that squad.

“That was two good physical teams playing physical football,” said Pickerington Central coach Jay Sharrett. “The possession that hurt us was we broke down on our punt protection and they blocked the punt. We were trading field position before that.”

The Cardinals took a 7-0 lead on the opening possession of the game. Ramsby capped off a six-play, 65-yard drive with a 12-yard touchdown run through the left side of the line. Zach Gehner added the first of his four extra points.

Pickerington Central answered with a 79-yard drive on eight plays. Brent Walton rushed up the middle for 20 yards and the touchdown and the Tigers added a two-point conversion run by Greg Basalyga.

Colerain led 14-8 at halftime but Pickerington Central retook the lead, 15-14, on a 9-play, 96-yard drive to start the second half. Junior quarterback Colby Simkins threw a short out pass to Cris Reyes, who broke one tackle and turned the play into a 30-yard touchdown reception.

Colerain answered with its own long drive, going 64 yards in 12 plays. Davis scored his touchdown to put Colerain up 21-15.

“I was just playing the game and I didn’t worry about the knee,” said Davis. “It felt good to get into the end zone.”

Pick. Central 8 0 7 0 -- 15
Colerain 7 7 7 7 -- 28

C – Ramsby 12 run (Gehner kick)
P – Walton 20 run (Basalyga run)
C – Sorn 7 run (Gehner kick)
P – Simkins 30 pass to Reyes (McMillan kick)
C – Davis 11 run (Gehner kick)
C – Smith 18 run (Gehner kick)

Records: Pickerington Central (0-1), Colerain (1-0)