ERIE — Zeke Andrews and fourth-ranked Ralston Valley didn’t get a chance to show off their high-powered offense in Week 0.
The Mustangs (1-0) had to wait, but their season-opening statement Friday night at Tiger Stadium was impressive enough. Andrews threw for 281 yards, ran for 65, and accounted for four touchdowns in a 34-21 road win at Erie.
Andrews, a 6-foot-6 senior, completed 19 of 27 passes. Six of them went to Ethan Shirazi for 147 yards and a pair of scores. His third touchdown pass went to Evan Shirazi on the opening drive of the second half.
“Obviously, some first-game nerves, first drive didn’t go our way, but we faced that adversity and went on a run,” Andrews said. “It’s good to get the first one out of the way and we’ll be ready for the next one.”
Ralston Valley’s first drive was a three-and-out, but the offense started to cook after that and scored on five straight possessions. On an otherwise celebratory night, there’s one big reason for concern moving forward for the Mustangs.
Starting running back Colton Stratman had nine carries for 75 yards, but the junior left the game early in the third quarter with a lower-body injury and did not return. RV head coach Jared Yannacito didn’t have an update on Stratman after the game.
Erie (1-1) was hoping to build off a 67-17 win against Brighton in Week 0, but two bad snaps at critical moments derailed the offense, while the Tigers defense struggled to find answers for Andrews and the Shirazi brothers.
“We had a week of practice where we weren’t on the field very much because of lightning delays and rain delays,” Yannacito said. “We kind of prepared the kids like, ‘Hey, it might start a little slow but believe in the system, believe in our process and execute.’ And they did that.”
The Tigers nearly caught Ralston Valley off guard with their offense still on the field for fourth down on its second drive, but a well-timed timeout averted disaster.
The ensuing punt pinned the Mustangs at their own 8-yard line. But long scoring drives for the visitors became a theme. Andrews capped the 92-yard march with a 39-yard touchdown pass to a wide-open Ethan Shirazi to even the score.
Erie moved the ball well on its next two drives, but the first wayward snap and a missed field goal left it with no points. Andrews and the Mustangs took advantage.
The towering quarterback found Ethan Shirazi again for a 40-yard score, this time with a beautiful long throw into the end zone to put RV up 14-7 just 69 seconds into the second quarter. Ethan was the team’s third-leading rusher last year, but the move to wide receiver already looks like a great decision.
“We probably worked on that post 1,000 times this summer,” Andrews said. “We saw the call and we were pretty excited. We locked eyes and I knew the ball was going to him.
“It’s awesome. I know I can go anywhere with the football now. We stretched the field deep. That was something we struggled with last year.”
The Mustangs only needed four plays to go 85 yards on that drive, but were more methodical with a 14-play march to extend the lead.
Andrews did it with his arm, connecting with four different targets on the drive, and with his legs. His fourth-and-11 pass to Ethan Shirazi was critical, then it was time for his brother to get involved. Andrews scrambled left and found Evan Shirazi alone near the back of the end zone for a 21-7 lead and his third touchdown toss of the opening half.
Nico Benallo, the team’s leading receiver a year ago, had a relatively quiet night with three catches, but his 1-yard run put RV up 34-7 early in the fourth quarter. Erie scored twice after that, including with 1:08 left, to make the outcome look a little closer.
Braylon Tolliver was electric for Erie, running for 142 yards on 17 carries and adding another 35 on three receptions.
“He’s one of the best in the state,” Yannacito said. “When you see him on film, he’s amazing. But then you see him in person. He’s just fantastic.”
Erie grabbed an early lead on the opening drive of the game. Toliver proved tough to tackle with a mix of moves and power. He had a 13-yard run early in the drive, where most of it was a pile-moving plunge. The Oregon State commit capped the drive with an 11-yard run that started with a spin move in the hole and finished with more muscle near the goal line.
It was all Mustangs when it mattered after that.
“I think the main goal for all of us is making the state championship game,” Andrews said. “Never been done before in Ralston Valley history. But we’re just focused on Week 2 right now. We’re focusing on Grandview.”
