Cedar Ridge stuffed Rouse 34-16, pushing their record to a dominant 4-0, a feat not accomplished since 2017. You wanna know why? It’s all about that defense, a unit that’s totally transformed and is bringing the kind of energy that wins games. This team is *on fire*, and it’s because guys are making big-time plays when it counts.
Jeremiah Passmore Called His Shot, and Delivered
Hours before Friday night’s homecoming game, defensive tackle Jeremiah Passmore made a promise to himself: he was gonna get a sack. “Just manifesting,” Passmore said, explaining his self-made vow. He was honest about last year, admitting he “didn’t really get to play at my full potential.” But this season? This game? Passmore came through huge, bagging 1½ sacks, forcing a fumble, and racking up three tackles for loss. That’s a dominant performance right there! He’s been a rock for the Raiders’ drastically improved defense, and his energy after the win summed it up: “Our energy, we’ve really come together as a team. Everybody wants it. Everybody wants to get stops and stuff like that. We’ve really come together as one unit.” That’s the kind of locker room talk you love to hear.
From Forty Points to Twenty: This Defense is Different
Last year, Cedar Ridge’s defense was bleeding points, giving up just shy of 40 points per game, and that cost them a playoff spot. Passmore even admitted he mentally checked out as things went south. But everything flipped when Brian Gaylor came on as defensive coordinator. Passmore credits Gaylor with helping him ditch last year’s struggles and go all-in for his final season. The numbers don’t lie: this year, the defense is allowing a ridiculously stingy 20 points per game! That’s cutting their opponents’ scoring almost in half! Linebacker Ayden O’Brien Brown, the team’s leading tackler, nailed it when he said the “front seven is playing really well together,” making life easier for everyone. And it’s not just the big boys up front. The secondary is thriving, too, snatching up seven interceptions already this season. You love to see it!
This consistent, suffocating defense has given their explosive offense room to breathe. Cedar Ridge is averaging 41.8 points this year, up from just over 36 points last season, including a 21-6 season-opening win. They’re undefeated for the first time since 2017, and the way they’re playing, who’s gonna stop them? The season is young, but this team has a “get-it-back mentality on defense” that makes them must-watch football.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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