Warriors roll over Blackman

At BHS Friday, it was all Riverdale all the time.

The Warriors (3-0, 2-0 in Region 4-5A), ranked No. 25 nationally by PrepNation, had four first-half runs of 40 yards or more, including a 78-yard fumble return by senior Antwaun Smith for the game’s first score en route to a 63-0 victory over the Blaze (0-3, 0-2).

The win was the Warriors 18th straight overall, one shy of tying the school record of 19. It was also the 65th straight region/district win and seventh in as many games against the Blaze.

“(Senior fullback) Tamar (Butler) ran the ball real well, and we showed we could pass a little bit, too,” said Riverdale junior quarterback Scott Thomas, who threw for 165 yards, including three for 114 yards to Smith. “We’ve got a lot of weapons.”

Smith, Butler and senior tailback Gaston Miller shared the first-half spotlight. Smith scooped up a Shane Adams fumble just three plays after the Blaze had recovered a Thomas fumble.

A Thomas to Smith 67-yard pass play set up a 6-yard touchdown run by Miller.

In the second quarter, Thomas and Smith hooked up again. This time the play went for 44 yards. Three plays later Miller, who has verbally committed to Vanderbilt, scored on a 2-yard run.

Butler had a 57-yard touchdown run on the Warriors’ next series and later had a 33-yard burst to lead to the fifth first-half touchdown and Miller’s third, on a 5-yard run.

Blackman had three first downs on its first possession, but lost the ball on downs at the Riverdale 29. The Blaze had only one more first down the remainder of the first half.

Smith returned a punt 63 yards for another Warrior score. Miller picked up his fourth touchdown of the game on an 8-yard carry, and Butler added a 39-yard run, all in the third quarter, to give the Warriors a 56-0 advantage.

Junior running back Chad Hunter added the other Riverdale touchdown.

“The line was blocking incredible, and they opened up some holes for us to run through,” said Butler. “I thought (in the beginning) we underestimated them, and we have to respect all of our opponents.”

Adams and junior tailback Jeremy Mimms each ran for first downs on Blackman’s initial possession. It moved the chains a third time thanks to a Warrior penalty, but on a fourth down play, Mimms was stuffed at the Riverdale 29.

“It was kind of the snowball effect (after Smith’s fumble return),” said Blackman coach Bobby Wells. “We were trying to run right at them and eat some clock. It was going great until the fumble.”