MOUNTAIN RIDGE MINER FOOTBALL

MOUNTAIN RIDGE WELCOMES STRUGGLING BLAZERS TO MINERS' STADIUM LOOKING TO END 2-GAME LOSING STREAK

FROSTBURG, MARYLAND - While Mountain Ridge and Clear Spring have never played, they were supposed to in the first round of the Class 1A West Region playoffs in 2021 before the Blazers opted out of the postseason. ... Mountain Ridge is looking to avoid its first 1-3 start since 2017. ... Junior quarterback Carter Clites is fourth locally at 183 yards per game passing. He's completed 48 fo 74 passes (65%) for 549 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions. ... Daniel Swindle (207 yards) and Levi Clise (194 yards, one TD) are his top targets. Nathan Miller has caught two touchdowns. ... Clise leads the Mountain Ridge defense with 26 tackles, an interception and a forced fumble. Eli Rafferty has a team-high six tackles for loss. ... The Miners are looking to get the run established for the first time this year. They're averaging 56.3 yards per game on the ground and 2.4 yards per carry. ... That should be possible against a Clear Spring squad that's rebuilding following a 6-4 finish last season. The Blazers are coming off losses to Berkeley Springs, 34-28, and Everett, 41-7 — two teams it handled easily in 2024, 42-14 and 30-6, respectively.