SHEA RIDE: QB leads Whiteford to game-winning TD in state finals
DETROIT – Whiteford’s football team was about to begin one of the biggest drives in school history.
Todd Thieken wasn’t going to take any chances.
Whiteford’s head coach generally concentrates on defense, but in this instance, he put one simple stipulation on offensive coordinator Ben Avis: Let Shea Ruddy lead the way.
“Before that last drive, I told our offensive coordinator that I wanted the ball in Shea’s hands whether it was running or directing things in some shape or form,” Thieken said.
Avis did that and Ruddy delivered.
The senior quarterback masterfully crafted an 80-yard drive Friday that carved nearly 8 minutes off the clock and produced a touchdown that give Whiteford its second state championship in the past six years.
Fittingly, it was Ruddy who capped the winning drive by running 7 yards for a touchdown with 1:59 remaining.
That turned out to be the difference in Whiteford’s 26-20 triumph over Ubly in the Division 8 state championship game at Ford Field.
“It had to be their quarterback,” said Ubly coach Eric Sweeney. “That kid is a heck of a player. He’s the best athlete we’ve seen all year. He’s quick and elusive.”
And he’s smart.
Ruddy didn’t carry the ball on every play of the winning drive, but he knew how to get the best of his teammates.
Hunter DeBarr, Jake Iott, and Drew Knaggs all had important runs in the crucial drive and DeBarr and Kolby Masserant both hauled in passes from Ruddy.
Football ability is secondary when Thieken thinks about Ruddy.
“First and foremost, he’s a great kid,” the coach said. “He’s a 4.2 student. He’s one of the most likeable and respectful kids you’re ever going to meet. And he comes from a great family.
“As far as football, he loves the game and has great leadership skills. He is a commanding presence in the huddle.”
Whiteford never trailed in Friday’s Division 8 title game, but Ubly had seized momentum with back-to-back touchdowns in the third and fourth quarters to knot the score at 20-20 with 9:41 left in the game.
That’s when Theiken decided that he was going to pin his team’s hopes on Ruddy.
The Bobcats got the ball on their own 20 following a touchback and the senior QB went to work.
“You’re always slightly nervous, but at the same time excited,” Ruddy said.
On the third play of the drive, Ruddy converted a third-and-3 by flipping a short pass to DeBarr for a 13-yard gain.
Moments later the Bobcats were facing a fourth-and-5 and Ruddy took matters into his own hands with a 7-yard gain.
That took the ball into Ubly territory at the 48.
A series of short runs produced another first down, then Ruddy connected with Masserant for a 13-yard gain to the Bearcat 22.
Ruddy ran for 8 yards and DeBarr 9, giving Whiteford a first-and-goal from the 5.
The roar of the Whiteford crowd was silenced for a moment when Ruddy was thrown for a 4-yard loss. DeBarr got 2 yards back on the next play and Whiteford called timeout with 2:06 left.
The Bobcats gave Ruddy a run-pass option to the right side.
“Originally, I was just going to throw it, but there was a lot of room so I ran,” he said.
Ruddy beat the Ubly defense to the corner of the end zone for a 7-yard scoring run.
Whiteford ran nearly an identical play on the 2-point conversion attempt. Officials ruled that Ruddy had made it to the end zone, but a video review ruled that he had stepped out of bounds before scoring.
That left some work for the Whiteford defense, but DeBarr, Knaggs and Ryin Ruddy all made plays in a four-and-out.
Whiteford then ran out the clock to win their first state crown since 2017.
“I’m really proud of our kids with the way our kids responded in that last drive,” Thieken said. “The way we finished that game was a testament to all 51 kids on our football roster and the way they have worked since last June. There has just been a never-quit attitude to all they do and it’s just been awesome.”
Whiteford dominated the opening quarter as a forced fumble by Knaggs was recovered by Trent Olrich to set up a 26-yard touchdown run by DeBarr.
The Bobcat defense came up with another stop then Ruddy directed another great 80-yard drive in 14 plays.
Passes to DeBarr (17 yards) and Masserant (16) and a 19-yard run by Knaggs were the key plays.
Ruddy kept it alive with a pair of spectacular runs, including a 9-yard gain on fourth-and-9 from the 10.
He scored himself from a yard out.
Ubly took advantage of an interception to score late in the first half to pull withing 12-6 at halftime.
Whiteford took the second-half kickoff and drove 80 yards to score on a 4-yard run by DeBarr. A 25-yard completion to Masserant and a 22-yard scramble by Ruddy were the key plays.
Ruddy finished 8-of-12 for 112 yards and ran 13 times for 77 yards. DeBarr gained 94 yards on 19 carries and Masserant had 5 catches for 82 yards.
Defensive backs Shea and Ryin Ruddy had 12 tackles each to lead the defense.
“Their secondary was the fastest we faced all year,” Sweeney said.
Iott was credited with 11 stops.
“It was probably one of best high school football games I’ve ever been a part of,” said Thieken, who has been coaching for more than three decades “The way that both teams out there just battled right down to the wire and just the way the teams were going at it.”
Whiteford | 12 | 0 | 8 | 6 | – | 26 |
Ubly | 0 | 6 | 7 | 7 | – | 20 |
First Quarter
W – Hunter DeBarr 26 run (run failed)
W – Shea Ruddy 1 run (run failed)
Second Quarter
U – Mark Helig 2 run (kick failed)
Third Quarter
W – DeBarr 4 run (Ruddy run)
U – Seth Mauer 31 run (Brett Mueller kick)
Fourth Quarter
U – Mauer 9 run (Mueller kick)
W – Ruddy 7 run (run failed)
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Rushing: Seth Maurer, U, 15-129; Hunter DeBarr, W, 19-94; Mark Helig, U, 18-82; Shea Ruddy, W, 13-77; Evan Peruski, U, 7-43; Drew Knaggs, W, 9-43; Jake Iott, W, 10-24; Luis Trejo, W, 1-5; Aiden Mackowiak, U, 2-3; Brandon Knaggs, W, 1-2.
Passing: Shea Ruddy, 8-12-112; Evan Peruski, U, 1-5-13.
Receiving: Kolby Masserant, W, 5-82; Hunter DeBarr, W, 2-30; Mark Helig, U, 1-13; Ryin Ruddy, W, 1-0.
Tackles: Canden Peruski, U, 14; Aiden Mackowiak, U, 13; Shea Ruddy, W, 12; Ryin Ruddy, W, 12; Jake Iott, W, 11; Mark Helig, U, 9; Caden Osantowski, U, 7; Evan Peruski, U, 7; Seth Maurer, U, 6; Hunter DeBarr, W, 5; Chris Oswald, U, 5; Aiden Kolar, U, 4; Luke Volmering, U, 4; Parker Peruski, U, 4; Stepan Masserant, W, 3; Drew Knapps, W, 2, Shane Suchora, W, 2; Mason DeBarr, W, 1, Lincoln Joerin, W, 1, Trent Olrich, W, 1; Brayden Luse, W, 1; Kolby Masserant, W, 1; Seamus Waterford, W, 1; Logan Volmering, U, 1; Austin Gentner, U, 1.
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: SHEA RIDE: QB leads Whiteford to game-winning TD in state finals
