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GREENSBORO - In a game of unbeatens between Ragsdale and Page, there was one big play after another.

But the Tigers had the last two big plays to come away with a 21-14 win on the Pirates' field Friday night.

With Ragsdale (4-0) ahead 15-14 late in the third quarter, the Tigers scored on a 41-yard pass play, and then their defense did the rest. The Tigers' defense stopped the Pirates (3-1) on a fourth and goal with three minutes to play and then intercepted a pass with 39 seconds to play to put the game away.

"The defense just played with a lot of heart," said defensive back Nick Mearite, who had one interception and broke up two passes in the end zone. "We worked hard this week to stop (Page quarterback) Will Newman. The defense just stepped up and did what they had to do."

Although Newman scored early on a 66-yard run, the rest of the night was frustrating for the senior. He had a pass intercepted and nearly returned for a touchdown in the first quarter and many passes that receivers dropped.

One of those passes was to a wide-open Brad Workinger, who would have scored easily had he hauled in the reception.

"We were where we needed to be," said Ragsdale coach Tommy Norwood about his defense. "I think that play (the first-quarter interception) made him realize he was going to have to play really well to beat us."

Newman's struggles showed in his stats, 7-for-26 with 63 yards. But Page coach Kevin Gillespie knew that Newman was not the only one who had a rough night.

"We had mistakes in all phases of the game and they capitalized on them," Gillespie said. "I can't fault the effort. We just missed too many opportunities."

Other than Newman's long touchdown run, the only other Pirate score came on a 94-yard punt return by Thuc Phan. He would make several other spectacular returns, but was unable to score again.

Meanwhile, Ragsdale quarterback Tim Romer ran the Tigers offense with precision. He finished with 169 yards passing and two touchdowns, including the pivotal score with 3:06 remaining in the third quarter when he found Luke Sonricker wide open behind the defense for a 41-yard pass play.

The Pirates had one last chance when they got the ball with 1:48 to play, but Newman was out after being shaken up on the previous series.

After two plays, Ragsdale's Keith Handford went down with an injury. It turned out to be a broken leg, and the game was halted while an ambulance came and took him away.

When play resumed, backup quarterback Bruce McCoy completed two quick passes to Workinger to give the Pirates hope. But when he tried to go to Workinger for a third time, Ragsdale's Jonathan Ashworth stepped in front of it to end the threat and preserve the win.

P - Will Newman 66 run (Matt Millisor kick)

R - Charles Thomasson 8 run (Casey Redfern kick)

P - Thuc Phan 94 punt return (Millisor kick)

R - Luke Sonricker 11 pass from Tim Romer (Ian Jenkins pass from Romer)

R - Sonricker 41 pass from Romer (pass failed)