BLACKSVILLE — Andrew Ritchea got quite a bit accomplished Friday night.
Cameron’s senior scatback rushed for 201 yards and four touchdowns, caught a pass for 18 yards and also intercepted a pass on defense.
Add on a two-point conversion run and Ritchea accounted for 26 of the Dragons 50 points in a 50-0 win against Clay-Battelle.
The only thing he didn’t do:
“I didn’t cramp up and have to come out of the game,” Ritchea said. “I’ve had some problems with that all season.”
The word “had” is key there, and it wasn’t just the colder conditions that kept his legs from cramping.
“No, actually, I started eating a lot of pickles,” he said. “The dill spears. Someone told me they would help and they did.”
After a night like that, maybe the rest of the fifth-ranked Dragons (8-0) should invest in pickle eating, too.
Too late.
“Most of the guys already are,” Ritchea said with a smile. “We all started getting into them. We can’t get enough pickles right now.”
Cameron quarterback Aidan Lucey added 169 yards passing in what is a spread-’em-out and play fast type of offense.
The Dragons outgained the Cee-Bees, 474-157.
“When we started to look at them on film, we tried to break down some areas that might be a weak link,” C-B head coach Ryan Wilson said. “Lucey is a good quarterback with a nice arm and he runs the offense really well. Ritchea is a good running back. Their line has size and speed. What do you take away?”
For the 14th-ranked Cee-Bees (4-3), well, Clay-Battelle is simply in a pickle.
The Cee-Bees are hurting, literally and also on the depth chart.
Starting running back Nathan Swaniger was on crutches and wearing street clothes to begin the game.
Backup Sean Hays played, but injured his ankle and played through a noticeable limp.
In an attempt to try and slow the pace of the game down, the Cee-Bees came out in power formations and used a direct snap approach to freshman Daniel Gorby, who wore No. 71.
Offensive tackle Noah Watson — jersey No. 70 — lined up as fullback, possibly making it the first time two players wearing jerseys in the 70s played in the backfield.
“We thought maybe we could move them a little bit,” Wilson said. “We tried to keep the ball away from their offense.
“But, we started without one of our top guys and then you lose some backups; we just don’t have enough guys to keep up with a team like Cameron. We just don’t have the bodies to do it.”
Watson was ejected from the game in the second quarter, meaning he will miss next week’s game against Conotton Valley (Ohio).
Wilson said he didn’t know if Swaniger would be ready to play next week.
As for the Dragons, their chances at an undefeated regular season continued.
“What’s been great about this team is how we all get along and have fun,” Ritchea said. “Our lineman are big and strong and our defense makes great adjustments. It’s a good group of guys to be around.”
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