BROWNSTOWN TWP., Mich. — Shea Ruddy didn’t expect to get 12 carries in Saturday’s Division 8 state semifinal game.
But the Whiteford senior quarterback made the most of the opportunity, rushing for 115 yards and scoring four touchdowns as the Bobcats beat Clarkston Everest Collegiate, 44-6.
“In practice all week, we didn’t really work on that,” Ruddy said. “I think it just developed that way.”
The Bobcats (13-0) will play at Ford Field in Detroit at 10 a.m. on Friday in the state final against unbeaten Ubly.
It will be Whiteford’s third time playing for a state title since 2016. They won it all in 2017.
“I’m so excited for the kids,” Whiteford coach Todd Thieken said. “But I told them we can’t be just content with getting there. We have to work hard all week to prepare for this.”
After the Bobcats fell behind 6-0 midway through the first quarter, Ruddy directed the Bobcats on six scoring drives to put the game out of reach. He scored on touchdown runs of 5, 22, 15, and 7 yards. The last one forced a running clock against the 9-4 Mountaineers.
Most of his runs Saturday were called quarterback sweeps or draw plays right up the middle.
“Shea is such a veteran quarterback,” Thieken said. “You don’t have to work on a play like that in practice, he just knows it. He’s like another coach on the field.”
Whiteford forced the Mountaineers (9-4) to punt on their first drive, but fumbled on its second offensive play. Everest Collegiate kept a drive alive with a fake punt and eventually scored on a 1-yard touchdown run by Jimmy Nedwick to go up 6-0.
The Bobcats came right back on the next drive, marching down the field and scoring on a Hunter DeBarr 10-yard run. Jake Iott ran in the two-point conversion, putting Whiteford in front for good.
Drew Knaggs scored from seven yards out for a 14-6 lead, and then Ruddy scored his first touchdown with 5:36 left in the second quarter to make it 22-6.
In the second half, Knaggs carried the ball on the first three plays to get the Bobcats from midfield to the 22, before Ruddy finished off the drive.
It was a powerful offensive demonstration for the Bobcats, who finished the game with 379 yards on the ground.
“We talked at halftime about imposing our will on them on that first drive,” Thieken said.
Ruddy’s final two scores put the game away.
In addition to Ruddy’s 115 yards, Knaggs ran for 95, Iott had 60 yards rushing, and DeBarr ran for 55.
“I knew that it was going to be tough stopping their run,” Everest Collegiate coach Michael Pruchnicki said. “They are a good team. That hurt us.”
Defensively, Ryin Ruddy made 12 tackles, Kolby Masserant intercepted two passes, and Knaggs recovered a fumble. Shea Ruddy had a season-high 11 tackles, and Iott was in on 10 stops.
“Our defense really shut them down after that first drive,” Thieken said. “They did a nice job. That enabled our offense to get good field position.”
Friday will be the first meeting between Ubly and Whiteford.
“I don’t think it has really sunk in yet, but we are definitely really excited,” Ruddy said. “I can’t wait to get there.”
First Published November 19, 2022, 8:27 p.m.
