Ridge H.S. 2024 Football Preview

BASKING RIDGE, NJ -- Many other coaches and athletes would envy the consistency of the Ridge High School football program.

In each of the last five seasons (not counting 2020, when there were no playoffs), the Red Devils have posted a winning record and won a first-round playoff game before exiting in the second round -- almost always in a close game.

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Head coach Andy West, entering his fifth season, will lead Ridge into action for a late opener against an old friend. The Red Devils' first game is Saturday afternoon, Sept. 7, at St. Joseph in Metuchen. The head coach at St. Joe's is Bill Tracy, the man whom West succeeded as Ridge's head coach in 2020. West was an assistant under Tracy before that.

West and his staff seem to weather big graduation losses annually and then manage to retain the positive, close-knit culture that has been a calling card at Ridge dating back to the beginning of Tracy's tenure there well over a decade ago.

Some of the returning players this year who'll be charged with keeping that tradition going include: Ryan Turner (sr. HB/CB), Aidan Stieglitz (sr. FB/DE), Bode Ganny (sr. C), Nick Giordano (sr. OG), Jacob Giordano (sr. NG), Andrew Dachnowicz (sr. OT/LB), Chase Fritz (sr. TE/LB), Nate Engdahl (sr. OT/DT) and Ryan Swan (sr. HB/S).

Last year, Turner rushed for 294 yards (an 11.8-yard average) and led the Red Devils in receiving with 15 catches for 24.5-yards per reception. He rushed for five TDs and caught five TD passes. Turner's explosiveness will be even more evident this season as, last year, he was only Ridge's fourth-leading ball-carrier.

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Stieglitz had 304 rushing yards and three TDs last season. A standout prospect as a pitcher in baseball, Stieglitz missed most of his junior baseball season with an injury.

"This is a great group of guys that works hard, is also extremely intelligent, and shows great leadership," West said. "We have a nice balance of guys -- some with great speed, some with great physicality, some with great arm strength -- but one thing we all have in common is a great commitment to the process, to each other, and to the program."

The following newcomers are expected to make a significant impact: Connor McLachlan (sr. QB), Joseph Dachnowicz (sr. HB/S), Nate Schneider (sr. OG/DE), David Hamilton (sr. TE/LB), Anthony Valera (sr. OG/DT), Matthew Bober (sr. CB/QB) and Nick Pfenning (sr. FB/LB).

"We know that we have a significant challenge ahead of us with a very difficult schedule -- all eight opponents made the playoffs last year - but we have the ability to take another run at things with a senior lead team," West said. "The guys have shown great commitment throughout the summer, so they have certainly been putting in the work required to earn the opportunity to take on our Week One opponent in St. Joseph of Metuchen, and will have to continue to put in the work each week for the next opponent at hand. One step at a time, but we like our chances."

To reiterate West's point, after Saturday's road opener, Ridge will be home for consecutive Friday nights in weeks two and three, against two very formidable opponents: Hillsborough and Phillipsburg.

"There is no quit in this team. They are dedicated, passionate, and always put the team needs ahead of their own individual desires," West said. "They believe that hard work works, but realize that it also isn't that simple, and that they also need to be incredibly precise, focused, determined, and locked into the great program that we have here at Ridge."

RIDGE 2024 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
09-07    @ St. Joseph (Met.)
09-13    Hillsborough
09-20    Phillipsburg
09-27    @ Bridgewater
10-04    Union
10-10    @ Hunterdon Cent.
10-18    @ North Brunswick
10-25    Westfield

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