By Steve Heath

DNJ Prep Editor

Game Stats     Game Photos

Riverdale's second season started out much like the first.

In an opening round playoff game at Tomahawk Stadium Friday, the No. 1 ranked Warriors (11-0) eliminated Franklin County (6-5) 41-0.

Carrying over from an outstanding regular season, the Warriors picked up their 11th straight win and eighth win by 40 points or more.

The shutout was the team's seventh of the season, tying a school-record set in 1994. The Warrior defense has not given up a touchdown in 38 quarters.

The last touchdown was scored by Smyrna Sept. 3 in the second quarter of a 65-20 Riverdale win.

Riverdale and Smyrna will meet again Nov. 12 at Tomahawk Stadium in a second-round game in the TSSAA Class 5A State Football Playoffs.

"It's real big to keep our confidence going," said Riverdale senior wide receiver/linebacker Rahmel Oliver. "We ought to feel good about coming out here winning and still shutting teams out."

Riverdale scored with 6:48 left in the first quarter when senior quarterback Dave Thomas, in shotgun formation, made a one-hand grab of a high snap then sprinted down the left sideline for a 71-yard touchdown.

The Warriors added 21 second-quarter points getting three touchdowns from junior tailback Gaston Miller. Miller went over the 1,600-yard mark for the season and upped his season touchdown total to 26. He and Thomas each added a second-half score. Thomas has 15 touchdowns on the season.

"We've been looking forward to the playoffs. We've been looking forward to this all season," said senior offensive lineman Ricky Lawrence. "This is good momentum for us going into the next round.

"The key was getting Gaston open and free."

If it wasn't Miller, it was Thomas, and if it wasn't Thomas, it was Miller. The two combined for 360 rushing yards and all six of the team's touchdowns.

"If you stop (Miller), then you've got me. If you stop me, you've got him," said Thomas. "If you stop both of us, we're going to throw it.

"We've got good players all around. It's not just me and Gaston. The offensive line is good, and we've got good receivers."

Defensively, the Warriors shut down Franklin County junior running back Braylon Leslie, who had rushed for more than 100 yards in nine of the Rebels 10 games. Averaging over 140 yards per game, Leslie had a season-low 42 yards on 14 carries. All but three of the yards came after the Warriors already had a 28-0 lead.

It was the second straight year Riverdale eliminated Franklin County from the playoffs. It beat the Rebels 45-0 in a second-round game in 2003.

"We had a few early penalties and a fumble that wasn't good, but we played hard and had fun," said Riverdale coach Gary Rankin. "We played good on defense. They had a few weapons, and I thought we ran the ball well It was a good game. They'll get tougher.

"The bottom line is to win. I don't care how it happens or who does it, as long as we win the ballgame."

The shutout was the team's third straight. Since a 65-20 win over Smyrna in the second game of the season, Riverdale is 9-0 and outscored the opposition 413-8.

"We want to have shutouts, but all we're looking for is the 'W'," added senior defensive lineman Marcae Brown.