Ryle Downs Campbell County -

By Marc Hardin • Enquirer contributor • November 12, 2010

Campbell County quarterback Michael Kremer knew Ryle was serious about putting pressure on him when he saw Raiders outside linebacker Travis Elliott lined up at nose tackle.
"I noticed it the very first play," Kremer said. "I was like, 'Great. He's a lot closer.'"
Ryle coach Bryson Warner said the Raiders' primary goal against the Camels was to take Kremer - a 2,500-yard passer with 23 touchdowns - out of his comfort zone.
Mission accomplished.
The Raiders sacked Kremer seven times and intercepted him four times in defeating the Camels 38-14 in a Class 6A second-round playoff game Friday night in Union.
The Raiders (11-1), ranked No. 1 in the Enquirer Northern Kentucky coaches' poll, will play third-ranked Simon Kenton (10-2) in next week's regional final at Ryle.

Campbell County, ranked ninth, finishes the season at 6-6.

"It's disappointing," said Kremer, who came in having passed for 2,500 yards and 23 touchdowns but was limited to fewer than 60 yards in the first half while Ryle was building a 17-0 lead. Kremer finished the game with 24-of-48 passing for 227 yards and two touchdowns, one apiece to Matt Smith and Nate Geiman.

"Their defense played amazing," Kremer said of the Raiders.

It all started up front, where Ryle coach Bryson Warner told Elliott to be as disruptive as possible.

"Coach said get in there and cause havoc," said Elliott, who did so on both sides of the line of scrimmage.

Elliott rushed for 193 yards and two touchdowns on 24 carries. He had an unofficial total of five tackles, but it was the collateral damage Elliott caused by demanding the presence of a second defender that did in Kremer.

"It was (defensive coordinator) Mike Woolf's idea to move Travis up to nose," Warner said. "He had constant pressure and you saw what happened."

While absorbing focus up front, Elliott helped free fellow Raiders defenders. The prime beneficiaries were Jake Nutter, who had three second-half sacks, and Winston Field, who had two sacks.

"Quarterback pressure is bringing intensity," Field said. "We wanted to bring as much intensity as possible."

Ryle's pass rush up front was so intense that Kremer was forced to scramble for yards. When he couldn't escape from the pocket, he often was sacked. When he was forced to throw on the run, the Raiders were able to pick off passes.

Zach Senvisky had three interceptions and Luke Boggs had one for Ryle, which scored 10 points off turnovers.

Garrett Mead's 29-yard field goal put Ryle up 10-0 in the first quarter after Senvisky's first interception. Conner Hempel, who was 10-of-16 passing for 167 yards and ran for 89, hit Caleb Lonkard with a 21-yard strike to put the Raiders up 31-0 in the third quarter after Senvisky's second pick.

Hempel threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to Taylor Thibodeau, who finished with five catches for 72 yards, to open the scoring. Deion Mullens, who totaled 71 yards rushing, scored on a 13-yard run to open the second-half scoring.