By Steve Heath

DNJ Prep Editor

Favored to get to the 2004 BlueCross Bowl since the 2003 BlueCross Bowl ended, the Riverdale Warriors have practiced and played with a bullseye on their backs.

Two-a-day practices, scrimmages and 14 games later, opponents have realized it's a moving target — a fast moving target.

For the fifth straight year — a state record — and ninth time in the past 12 years, the Riverdale Warriors will play in the BlueCross Bowl for an opportunity to win a fourth state championship.

The co-No. 1 ranked team in the state and No. 15 team in America, according to numerous national polls, the Riverdale Warriors (14-0) passed its last test to get to the title game Friday.

Coming from behind in the final minutes of the second quarter, Riverdale beat No. 3 Oak Ridge (12-2) 42-28 at Tomahawk Stadium and will play No. 4 Franklin (13-1) Saturday, Dec. 4, at 7 p.m. at Floyd Stadium.

"The last two years we lost 10-7 (in the BlueCross Bowl). This year we've had one goal, and that is to get here," said Riverdale senior quarterback Dave Thomas, who threw two touchdown passes in the victory. "We've been waiting for it all year. There's just one more team in the way."

Trailing 21-14 with 3:18 left in the second quarter, Riverdale scored twice before halftime and never trailed again.

Senior speedster Keaton Anderson, picked up a Thomas fumble on the Riverdale 38-yard line — after Thomas had rushed for 17 yards — and went 62 yards for a touchdown, tying the game with 2:18 left in the second quarter.

After an interception by Riverdale linebacker Rahmel Oliver, the Warriors took the lead for good on a 34-yard touchdown pass from Thomas to senior tight end Chris Perkins.

In the second half, Riverdale scored the first 14 points. Junior fullback Kit Hartsfield ran in from 12-yards out, and Anderson had a 71-yard touchdown reception to put the Warriors up 42-21 with 11:45 left in the fourth quarter.

Prior to the Anderson fumble return, the Warriors had quite a handful in Oak Ridge junior running back Spencer Gulmire and senior quarterback Scott McMahon.

Gulmire became the first running back this season to rush for more than 100 yards against the Warriors' defense. He rushed for 104 yards and two touchdowns in the first half, but finished with only 103 yards. He had just three carries for minus-1 yard and left the game with over eight minutes to play with an ankle injury.

McMahon finished with 213 passing yards, completing 12-of-19 passes, but was intercepted twice.

Oak Ridge tied the game 7-7 on a 5-yard touchdown run by fullback Leonard Blair. It was the first rushing touchdown against Riverdale since the first game of the season. The Wildcats took a 14-7 lead on Gulmire's 14-yard touchdown run and led 21-14 after Gulmire scored from three yards away.

"Anytime you can jump out on a team like (Riverdale), it's good," said Oak Ridge coach Bruce Lussier. "They answered the bell right back, but it became one of those ballgames where we still felt good down seven at halftime and getting the ball (to start the second half).

"We couldn't generate any offense in that third period. They got after us real well. They have a lot of guns, and we knew they did. We gave up a few big plays, and we knew coming in if we gave up three or four big plays it was going to be a long night for us."

In what was a shootout early, the Warriors had more guns and faster bullets.

Three of Riverdale's six touchdowns came from 34 yards or longer. Miller's one-yard run to tie the game 14-14, was set up on a 77-yard screen pass from Thomas to fleet-footed junior wide receiver Antwone Smith.

The moving target has one more week remaining and just one more win for its third undefeated state championship season.

"It's a huge accomplishment (to get back to the BlueCross Bowl)," said Riverdale senior center Justin Jones. "It's pretty much unheard of to go five straight years."

Thomas finished the game with 78 rushing yards on 17 carries. Miller finished with a hard-earned 100 yards on 25 chances. Thomas threw only six passes, but completed three for 182 yards.