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Fort White fell to Ridgeview 31-23 in the teams' spring game on Monday night. (CHRISTINA FEAGIN/Special to the Reporter)
FORT WHITE — Fort White’s potential for explosiveness was evident in the early going during its spring game against visiting Ridgeview.
However, the starters from Ridgeview maintained their pace against the Fort White starters, building a 31-7 halftime lead before the reserves made it respectable in a 31-23 victory Monday night at Arrowhead Stadium.
“I thought we had a good spring,” said Fort White head coach Lee Dorsett, who will enter his first fall with the Indians this coming season. “I thought things went well this spring. We just have to get better on offense.”
Fort White, coming off a 5-5 campaign, couldn’t solve Ridgeview quarterback Bo Myrick, who accounted for all four of his team’s touchdowns, scoring three through the air and one on the ground.
The game was not even a minute old before Myrick made his presence known for Ridgeview, which was coming off a 1-9 season. On the second play from scrimmage, he raced 80 yards for the game’s first score, giving the Panthers an instant 7-0 lead just 51 seconds into the game.
He went on to complete 9 of 18 passes for 177 yards. He gained 95 yards on the ground on just three carries.
Fort White appeared poised to match Riverview’s knack for the big play. On the Indians’ first possession, quarterback Clayton Philpot threw a 49-yard touchdown pass to Tafari Moe. Conner Bass’ extra point kick tied the game at 7-7, completing an 80-yard, seven-play drive.
Ridgeview went on to score 24 unanswered points before going into halftime. Myrick threw two of his three touchdown passes to Miles Burris, covering 5 and 6 yards.
In all, the Panthers gained a whopping 313 total yards through two quarters, while Fort White had 154 yards at halftime. Ridgeview capped off its scoring with a Kaleb Robinson 33-yard field goal with time running out.
Most of the starters played one series in the second half before the backups, consisting mostly of junior varsity players, played most of the second half where the Indians tallied the last 16 points of the game.
“The JV did a great job,” Dorsett said.
Indians’ Miliki Clark, who was inserted after being suspended for a half (disciplinary reason), finished with a team-leading 57 rushing yards on 10 carries, including an explosive 17-yard touchdown to cap the scoring with 10 minutes remaining. Hayden McCrory added 48 yards on 14 carries for the Indians.
Philpot completed 4 of 10 passes for 107 yards. Philpot also picked off a pass from his safety position.
Clark also impacted the game with his play from the cornerback position, breaking up at least two Riverview passes.
“(Miliki) served a suspension, and came in the second half,” Dorsett said. “He’ll be a full-time starter next season.”
Darion Brinson was the other scorer for the Indians in the second half, scoring on a 5-yard run.