Grove Ridgerunners
Coach: RON CULWELL
Schedule:
9-2 – at Miami
9-9 – vs. Jay
9-16 – vs. Wagoner
9-23 – vs. Tulsa Edison
9-30 – at Claremore
10-7 – vs. Tulsa Rogers
10-13 – vs. Tulsa Hale
10-21 – at Collinsville
10-28 – at Pryor
11-4 – vs. Bishop Kelley
Quick Hits:
Running back Emmanuel Crawford had 300 yards rushing 96 yards receiving and five touchdowns in the Ridgerunners 42-35 1st round playoff win over Ft. Gibson.
Grove and Collinsville haven’t met since 2015. The Cardinals have won the last five games in the series with the last Grove win coming in 2008.
Quarterback Carson Trimble combined for 240 yards rushing and passing and scored the game winning touchdown with a minute to play in Grove’s 34-28 win over Bristow.
Last 8 Years:
2021 – 10-2
2020 – 7-4
2019 – 5-4
2018 – 4-6
2017 – 1-9
2016 – 6-4
2015 – 5-4
2014 – 3-7
OFFENSE
Ron Culwell and the Grove Ridgerunners are poised for a great season in 2022. They return seven starters on offense and will line up in multiple spread formations. “We can switch from tight formations to no back sets,” Culwell said. “We like to have a balanced offense between the run and the pass. We like to mix our tempo to see which one benefits us the most.” Running back Emmanuel Crawford (6-0, 180, Sr.) has something to prove in 2022. Heading into his senior season Crawford has rushed for over 4,400 yards and 68 touchdowns. Crawford has the ability to score every time he touches the ball with his 4.46 speed. In 2021 he ran for an impressive 2,438 yards and 20 touchdowns while receiving 315 yards and four more scores. Upperclassmen Scott Cox (6-3, 255, Jr.), Cooper Edwards (6-3, 235, Sr.), Coda Morgan (5-10, 230, Sr.), and Jesse Arnall (5-11, 220, Sr.) return to hold down the offensive front. Quarterback Carson Trimble (6-1, 185, Sr.) works every day to become a better leader. Last year he threw for 2,172 yards with 22 touchdowns and picked up over 400 yards on the ground while scampering into the endzone seven times. Hagen Hacker (6-2, 175, Sr.) really began to grow into an athlete his sophomore year and hasn’t looked back. In 2021 he caught 50 balls for 862 yards and 10 scores. With sub 4.5 speed and a 34-inch vertical he’s a threat from anywhere on the field.
DEFENSE
The Ridgerunners return eight starters on defense. “We base out of a 4-2-5, but we can move into anything we need. We want to take away the other team’s strengths. We want to be aggressive and make things happen,” Culwell said. Strong safety Gavin Stone (5-7, 160, Sr.) was a runner up in the state powerlifting championships. Stone is a football guy’s guy. Put him anywhere on the field and he’ll make a play. He’s equally effective as a pass rusher and dropping into coverage in the secondary. He can play any position and still make an impact. Two-way player and defensive end, Edwards, had 62 tackles and two sacks while fellow two-way player, Arnall, had 57 tackles and a sack of his own in 2021. Linebacker Braden Casey (5-10, 155, Sr.) had 129 tackles and was a turnover machine in 2021 with four interceptions and two fumble recoveries. Last year defensive backs Caden Gain ( 5-11, 165, Sr.) and Landon Davis (5-10, 155, Sr.) combined for over 100 tackles. Cornerback Zane Malone (5-8, 145, Sr.) returns to the lineup in 2022 after an injury in week four last year caused him to miss the season. He is excited to return to the field and is expected to make solid contributions this season for the Ridgerunners.
