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Ryle remains unbeaten

The Ryle Raiders continued their perfect 2016 campaign on Friday night by knocking off their neighborhood rivals, the Cooper Jaguars, by 49-20 margin at Borland Stadium.

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Senior quarterback Tanner Morgan threw his 100th career TD pass to open up the scoring on the night when he connected with Bryce Ashley from 39 yards out, becoming the 21st player in Kentucky state history to hit the century mark. He became just the 10th player in state history in last week’s win over Henry Clay to reach 10,000 career passing yards.

With Ryle (12-0) up 7-0, Cooper (7-5) would answer with a 70-yard touchdown drive on the ensuing possession capped off by Jerod Lonaker 1-yard TD run.

The Raiders added a pair of touchdowns runs before the half. Jacob Chisholm hit paydirt first with a 1-yard scoring run followed a 25-yard TD scamper by Morgan as Ryle took a 21-7 lead into the locker room.

After a quick three-and-out to open up the second half by the Jaguars, Ryle would open up the lead even further when Chisholm rushed for 17-yard run. That would prove to be too much for Cooper to overcome. The Jaguars would answer with a touchdown, but the Raiders’ defense would get a key fumble recovery for a TD by Jackson High that quickly took the sail out of the winds for Cooper.

“They stopped a really good offense,” Morgan said of the Raiders’ defense. “Jackson (High) scored. Sandmann had a long fumble return- that really set up a lot for us.”

Head coach Mike Engler also praised the play on that side of the ball for Ryle after the team’s win.

“We have got to give credit to our defense,” Engler claimed. “We only ran six or seven offensive plays in the second half because our defense was making plays.”

Lonaker passed for 179, including just 85 yards to Dante Hendrix in duo’s final game together.

“They have maybe the best receiver in the state: Hendrix, he’s really good,” Engler claimed. “We wanted to take Hendrix out of the game. So we double teamed him.”

Chisholm would finish the night with 160 yards rushing and three touchdowns.

Up next, Ryle will hit the road for meeting with Scott County in as the KHSAA 6A playoffs continue next Friday night.

Cooper 0-7-7-6-20
Ryle 7-14-14-14-49

First Quarter
Ryle – Ashley 39 pass from Morgan (Molique kick)

Second Quarter
Conner – Lonaker 1 run (Hollifield kick)
Ryle – Chisholm 1 run (Molique kick)
Ryle – Morgan 25 run (Molique kick)

Third Quarter

Ryle – Chisholm 17 run (Molique kick)
Conner – Jackson 5 run (Hollifield kick).
R-High 25 fumble return (Molique kick)

Fourth Quarter

Conner – Hendrix 38 pass from Lonaker (kick blocked)
Ryle – Chisholm 74 run (Molique kick)
Ryle – Burch 23 run (Molique kick)

*Jaclyn DeAugstino contributed to this report

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