Riep comes up big in Colerain win

CINCINNATI - Billed as arguably the state's top contender for the Division I title heading into the season, Cincinnati Colerain survived a scare on Saturday afternoon against Indiana power Warren Central. The Cards, led by Ohio State pledge Amir Riep, scored with less than a minute to go to come away with the 31-28 victory.

"I felt real confident both in the team and in me that we could get the job done," said Riep after the game. "It was real big facing adversity and coming through as a team, real big."

It was a big special teams play by Riep to help setup the Colerain score. After letting a Central punt bounce, Riep scooped up the ball and raced down the right sideline deep into Warren Central territory. The Cards' offense would do the rest and get the late game-winning score.

"You've got to thrive under pressure," he said. "You have to make a play for the team and I just went all out."

Colerain was in control for a good part of the game and early on, it looked like it might even be a blow out. Warren Central showed its championship pedigree, however and stormed back, taking the lead late in the fourth quarter.

"I wasn't worried at all," Riep said, when asked about Warren Central's late touchdown. "I knew we would come together as a team."

Riep put all of his athletic talents on display on Saturday, being physical in both run support and coverage and also showing some big play ability on special teams. But it's the little things that the Rivals250 prospect says he is doing better this year.

"It's more technique," he said. "Last year it was just talent, now it's technique and just working on my craft and building on it."

Riep added that despite other teams continuing to recruit him he is "full Buckeye".