SUMMERSVILLE - Ripley made a successful return to the Class AAA playoffs by emerging with a 21-14 first-round victory over Nicholas County Saturday night.

After its first playoff game in seven seasons, ninth-seeded Ripley (9-2) advances to take on top-ranked Brooke (11-0) next weekend in the quarterfinals. The day and time of that game will be determined today. The Bruins advanced with a 33-17 win over Princeton.

Ripley scored first on a 10-yard run by Adam Rutter with 6:30 remaining in the first quarter. The Vikings took a 14-0 lead midway through the third quarter on Seth Hamrick's 21-yard run.

Nicholas County, which was playing host to its first playoff game in school history, closed within seven points on a 27-yard pass from Jordan Ramsey to Jordan Hogan with 5:13 left in the third. The score was set up by J.P. McClung's 49-yard kickoff return.

Ripley's second blocked punt of the game gave the Vikings a two-touchdown cushion. Junior lineman Caleb Derenberger blocked the kick, caught it in mid-air and returned it to the Grizzlies' 10-yard line.

"That was an awesome play," said Ripley coach Jimmy Frashier. "It gave us an opportunity to stick another score in there."

Ronnie Mullins got the TD on a 2-yard run at the 1:35 mark of the third quarter.

The No. 8 Grizzlies (9-2) pulled within seven points on Ramsey's second TD pass of the game. His 7-yard toss to McClung came with 4:59 remaining in the game.

Ripley was able to run out the clock, however, with another big play by the special teams. Hamrick picked up a key first down late in the fourth quarter on a fake punt.

"We call it 'roll the dice,' " Frashier explained. "[Hamrick] has the option to run until they stop him. If he sees the pressure, then he uses a rugby-style punt. It doesn't hurt having your starting running back as your punter."

The Vikings had a 247-205 edge in total offense in a game that included 19 penalties for 174 yards.

Hamrick led the Ripley running game with 82 yards on 22 carries. Scotty Ullom had 10 carries for 47 yards and completed 5-of-9 passes for 44 yards. Mullins covered 42 yards on five carries.

Ramsey led the Grizzlies by completing 11-of-19 passes for 126 yards and two scores. Hogan had three catches for 67 yards, McClung three for 31 and Jake Ferguson three for 26.

SUMMERSVILLE - Ripley made a successful return to the Class AAA playoffs by emerging with a 21-14 first-round victory over Nicholas County Saturday night.

After its first playoff game in seven seasons, ninth-seeded Ripley (9-2) advances to take on top-ranked Brooke (11-0) next weekend in the quarterfinals. The day and time of that game will be determined today. The Bruins advanced with a 33-17 win over Princeton.

Ripley scored first on a 10-yard run by Adam Rutter with 6:30 remaining in the first quarter. The Vikings took a 14-0 lead midway through the third quarter on Seth Hamrick's 21-yard run.

Nicholas County, which was playing host to its first playoff game in school history, closed within seven points on a 27-yard pass from Jordan Ramsey to Jordan Hogan with 5:13 left in the third. The score was set up by J.P. McClung's 49-yard kickoff return.

Ripley's second blocked punt of the game gave the Vikings a two-touchdown cushion. Junior lineman Caleb Derenberger blocked the kick, caught it in mid-air and returned it to the Grizzlies' 10-yard line.

"That was an awesome play," said Ripley coach Jimmy Frashier. "It gave us an opportunity to stick another score in there."

Ronnie Mullins got the TD on a 2-yard run at the 1:35 mark of the third quarter.

The No. 8 Grizzlies (9-2) pulled within seven points on Ramsey's second TD pass of the game. His 7-yard toss to McClung came with 4:59 remaining in the game.

Ripley was able to run out the clock, however, with another big play by the special teams. Hamrick picked up a key first down late in the fourth quarter on a fake punt.

"We call it 'roll the dice,' " Frashier explained. "[Hamrick] has the option to run until they stop him. If he sees the pressure, then he uses a rugby-style punt. It doesn't hurt having your starting running back as your punter."

The Vikings had a 247-205 edge in total offense in a game that included 19 penalties for 174 yards.

Hamrick led the Ripley running game with 82 yards on 22 carries. Scotty Ullom had 10 carries for 47 yards and completed 5-of-9 passes for 44 yards. Mullins covered 42 yards on five carries.

Ramsey led the Grizzlies by completing 11-of-19 passes for 126 yards and two scores. Hogan had three catches for 67 yards, McClung three for 31 and Jake Ferguson three for 26.