Football: Shenandoah linebacker faces old teammates in a friendly rivalry
By Michael Petre (Daily Staff Writer)
WINCHESTER — In college athletics, the opportunity to play against your former team rarely arises.
When players transfer from one school to another, they tend to chose a program in another part of the country or one at a different level of competition. Unlike professional sports, in which players are shuffled from team to team like a musty deck of playing cards, playing against ex-teammates is a unusual situation.
Shenandoah senior linebacker Evan Ruffner gets that chance this weekend. After two years of suiting up for the Bridgewater junior varsity, Ruffner emigrated up Interstate 81 to Shenandoah University, where he will face his former Eagle teammates Saturday night at Shentel Stadium.
Ruffner said he left Bridgewater on good terms and that he relishes the chance to face his former team. A victory against the Eagles, who have stomped Shenandoah each of the past five seasons, appeals even more.
"I hung out with most of the [current] seniors when I was down there," Ruffner said this week. "So it's going to be interesting this Saturday. I can't wait."
After wrapping up his career at Arlington's Yorktown High School, Ruffner headed to Bridgewater, hoping to become a contributor to the perennially strong program. The success kept coming for the Eagles — they're entering this season having won the past four Old Dominion Athletic Conference championships — but playing time never arrived for Ruffner.
"There were seniors and juniors in front of me," Ruffner said, mentioning all-American Jermaine Taylor, who was cut by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last weekend. "I didn't get the experience at the varsity level down there."
After two years of JV action, Ruffner chose to voyage north, settling on Shenandoah because of its proximity to home and his mother, Dawn.
"Financially, we were just going through some tough times," he said. "I figured, being only an hour away versus two hours away, I could commute back home more frequently. It just puts a little extra cash in my pocket so my mom doesn't have to put out so much money."
The move was a wise one from a football standpoint, too. Ruffner immediately broke into the rotation with the Hornets, seeing action in nine varsity contests as a junior last season, including a start against Chowan. He recorded 37 tackles and set himself up for a starting role this season.
Assistant coach Steve Gill, who handles the defensive line and middle linebackers, said Ruffner brings a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde approach to the game.
"He's very calm and relaxed off the field, but once you get him on the field, he's real intense and emotional," Gill said. "He's a strong kid, a true 'Mike' type of linebacker."
Gill saw enough of that in training camp to give Ruffner the starting nod at one middle linebacker position, and he was solid in the Hornets' 12-0, season-opening win at Catholic on Saturday. Ruffner racked up 3.5 tackles, including one for a loss.
But Bridgewater is on another level than the Cardinals, meaning Ruffner, like all of the Hornets, must step up his game against his former teammates. Although he said he hasn't spoken to any of them recently, Ruffner is anticipating jawing with the Eagles this weekend.
"It'll be a little jibber jabber — 'Watch out for this, watch out for that,'" he said. "But we'll see it on the field. That's what it's all about."
Bridgewater has dominated its recent series with Shenandoah, winning each of the past five years by a combined score of 214-35. With just one shot remaining, Ruffner knows he has to win now.
"We're basically almost at their status now," he said. "The past few years, look at what this program has done. We're going to be one of the nation's elite soon, within a couple of years. This is the time to make a statement, to let them know we're here and we're contenders."
Bridgewater coach Mike Clark knows Ruffner will be aiming for that this weekend. Quietly, he'll be cheering on his former player.
"It just wasn't the fit for him," Clark said. "I'm glad to see he was able to get a second chance, and he's made the most of it.
"I'll shake his hand before the game and wish him good luck."
R Contact Michael Petre at mpetre@nvdaily.com
Evan Ruffner marginalia
Class: Senior
Position: Middle linebacker
Height: 5-10
Weight: 220 pounds
Spent two years on Bridgewater junior varsity before transferring to Shenandoah
2004 stats: 37 tackles, 0.5 TFL in nine games, one start
2005 stats: 3.5 tackles, 1 TFL as starter in season opener at Catholic
