Hello, and thanks for reading my blog. This week I will break down the Ben Riley Classic, as the Jags get ready to face cross-county rival Hardeeville, in what should be a good defensive matchup. Here's the breakdown:

Ridgeland vs. Hardeeville

Previous Meeting: Ridgeland won 46-6

Preview:

Defense- This will determine the outcome of tonight's matchup. Both teams use a wing-t offense, and against opponents who run a wing-t offense, both defenses have held that opposing team's running game to under 100 yards (Hardeeville held Bluffton to 50 yards on 30 carries, Ridgeland held Bluffton to 39 yards on 29 carries). Hardeeville's strenght on defense is its front four, who were in the backfield through most of teh game against Bluffton, and Ridgeland's front four has been able to not only contain, but also clamp down on whatever way the run is going. The battle of the trenches will determin which team will carry out the objective and win. One thing Ridgeland has to worry about is the elusiveness of QB Harris, and his passing skills. Hardeeville also runs the spread offense, and last week against a mobile quarterback, Ridgeland allowed Bluffton's mobile QB to make big running plays. Expect the Jags to be much more disciplined tonight.

Offense- Offensively, both teams use the wing-t formation. Against Bluffton, Hardeeville was able to run the ball 51 times for 166 yards, with the standout being the broken tackles and YAT by both Knigthon and Kinlaw. Ridgeland, on the other hand, rushed for 225 yards on 46 touches. Offensively, Ridgeland is much more experienced under the wing-t, as Bluffton was unable to guess who had the ball at most times. The only flaw in the Jaguars' offense, the passing game. All pre-season Coach Kirkland has been saying they will pass the ball more. Last week against Bluffton, Ridgeland went 0-4 with one pick. But that wasn't a big deal. What caught my eye was the route running by the wideouts, as they all seemed to be hail mary passes. Also, Hardeeville's D-line has been its strength so far this season. IF Ridgeland can control the line, the expect another big running night, and expect the Jags to wear out the Canes. That will also be another factor. Against Bluffton, Hardeeville looked beat in the second half, and if Ridgeland can control the clock and pound the Canes, expect the Jags to retain the Ben Riley trophy.

My Pick- Ridgeland wins 20-12