The River Ridge girls flag football team dispatched North Thurston 28-7 at Central Kitsap High School Thursday night before falling in a tight matchup with Central Kitsap 18-14 later that evening.
Averee McClelland scored two touchdowns for the Hawks in the first contest, while the defense held the Rams to just one touchdown on a passing score in the first half. Sophie Rodriguez connected on a touchdown pass to JJ DaPron in the first half to give River Ridge a 14-7 lead at halftime.
McClelland and Casandra Morales each rushed for a score in the second half to put the game well out of reach.
In the second game against Central Kitsap, the Hawks fell down 14-0 in the first half to the Cougars before McClelland brought River Ridge within seven with her third TD of the day. Akela Brooks tied the game with a touchdown run of her own, but with an opportunity to take the lead, the Hawks dropped a snap in the end zone for a safety followed by a muffed handoff in the end zone for a second safety.
Samantha Thomas starred for the Hawks with four sacks in the double-header, while Silhouette Reed recorded an interception and seven tackles. Morgan Lokos led all Hawks with eight tackles.
“We had a solid all-around defense,” River Ridge head coach Corey Hert said of the win over North Thurston. “The star of the second game was our rusher Sam Thomas, who had several flag pulls for loss and had the CK backfield frustrated all game.”
River Ridge (4-3, 3-2 Puget Sound League) will play two games at Bellarmine Preparatory School in Tacoma on Tuesday, Jan. 13, first against the Bellarmine Lions and then against Capital (4-3, 2-2 PSL)..
North Thurston (3-5, 2-3 PSL) followed up the loss to River Ridge Thursday night with a 7-2 win over Bellarmine. The Rams will host Capital on Thursday, Jan. 15.
