After five straight trips to sectional semis, Ridge looks to take next step Friday, and exorcise some demons, against Ramapo

The Ridge and Ramapo football teams have some recent history, but the Red Devils will look to alter its course Friday night.

That’s when second-seed Ridge (8-1) will entertain third-seed Ramapo (6-3) in the North 1, Group 4 semifinals, with a trip to the sectional title game on the line. It’s a level Ridge hasn’t reached since winning a title in 2013, but there’s more to the story.

The Red Devils are in the sectional semis for the sixth playoff season in a row. They got that far in 2018 and 2019 under Bill Tracy – now the head coach at St. Joseph-Metuchen – and after the no-playoffs COVID year, have been there the last three years. In 2023, they fell to Northern Highlands by five, and the two previous years lost both times to Ramapo.

But those games – a 34-27 defeat in 2022, and a 41-31 loss in 2021 – were on the road. This time, the Red Devils get them at home. And it still won’t be easy.

The Raiders started the year 0-3. They opened with a loss at Somers (NY) by five, then lost to Ridgewood by 12 and Old Tappan by six; both of those teams are No. 1 seeds in their respective sections – and still alive – this postseason.

Ramapo has its own storied playoff history, too. They have 13 state sectional titles.

They’re the defending North 1, Group 4 champs, topping Northern Highlands – the team that knocked Ridge out – in last year’s title game, 14-10, before falling in the Group 4 title game to Mainland, which is down to Group 3 this year.

They also made the finals in 2022 and 2021, losing to Northern Highlands both times. And they’ve been in the semis the last 12 playoff years, dating back to 2012, winning titles in 2015, 2018 and 2019.

Click below to hear Ridge coach Andy West talk about the Red Devils, and Friday’s playoff game against Ramapo: