The final quarter of Friday’s game made all the difference in the Pirates’ 21-10 win over Marvin Ridge. The game was tied at 7-7 until the Mavericks took the lead with a field goal late in the third. The Pirates were up against the fence in the fourth quarter, when two big plays turned their night around.

Porter Ridge came out of the gate with a force on Friday, causing a fumble and scoring their first touchdown within three minutes of the first kickoff. A Porter Ridge fumble gave the Mavericks possession at the start of the second quarter. A long pass from quarterback Sully McDermott to senior Bryce Kennon set Marvin Ridge up to score on the next play, with a three yard McDermott keeper. Turnovers on both sides kept the score at 7-7 through halftime.

After missing a field goal early in the third. The Mavericks recovered a Porter Ridge fumble and earned a second chance at the kick. The field goal by Caden Noonkester split the uprights from 27 yards out, earning the Mavericks their first lead of the night, making the score 10-7 at the end of three.

A Porter Ridge turnover early in the fourth allowed the Mavericks the opportunity to advance to the Porter Ridge 12-yard line. On fourth down, with three yards to go, the Mavericks elected to bypass the field goal opportunity and chose to pass instead. Porter Ridge senior Thomas Mulroy intercepted the ball as it entered the red zone, and ran 90 yards for a game-altering touchdown. The Pirates were up 14-10 with under six minutes left to play.

Several big runs brought Marvin Ridge past mid-field on their next possession, but a flag on a first down play set the Mavericks up for disaster. A first down pass was intercepted by Porter Ridge cornerback Josh McLemore, and with just over a minute left in the game, junior Brandon Perry ran for a 9-yard touchdown that secured the win at 21-10.

The Mavericks begin conference play Friday, September 27 against Piedmont. The Pirates’ first conference match up will be on Friday against East Meck.