Warriors shut out Dickson County

Leading 14-0 late in the third quarter, the No. 1 ranked Warriors (6-0) scored three touchdowns in just 4:41 for a 35-0 win at Dickson County Stadium Friday.

Junior quarterback Scott Thomas hit junior flanker Marques Locke on an 18-yard slant play with 2:02 left in the third quarter to give the visitors a three-touchdown lead.

Later in the quarter, senior cornerback Antwaun Smith caused, recovered and returned a fumble 37 yards for a score, then just 2:39 into the fourth quarter, second-string sophomore tailback Jeremy McClain scored on a 5-yard run.

“That was a play we worked on in practice all week,” said Locke of his first catch of the season. “Coach (Gary) Rankin said he was going to try and get me the ball and wanted to do it in the right situation and it worked.”

For the Warriors, ranked No. 1 by the Associated Press and in the top 25 in two national polls — as high as No. 19 in the Tony Poll — the win extended its school-record winning streak to 21 games.

“I thought if we got ahead (by three scores) it was over because they’re not a catch-up kind of team,” said Rankin. “They don’t want to throw the ball. They take long drives to score, but until that point I didn’t feel relaxed until we were up 21-0.”

It was the final non-region game of the season. The Warriors put their 66-game region/district winning streak on the line next week at No. 6 Wilson Central (5-0), a 28-14 winner at Gallatin Friday.

It was the third shutout of the season and fourth game of six the Warriors did not give up a touchdown. Dickson County had just five first downs and none after the 6:53 mark of the third quarter.

Riverdale scored on its first drive. It took 11 plays and went 41 yards, with the help of a 15-yard Dickson County penalty on the kickoff. It ended with a 3-yard touchdown run by Thomas, who was questionable with a sore right (throwing) hand.

“It didn’t bother me much or bother my throwing,” he said. “It turned out better than I thought it would be.”

The Warriors took a 14-0 lead when senior tailback Gaston Miller, who has verbally committed to Vanderbilt, scored on a 10-yard run. The drive went seven plays, all on the ground, for 62 yards. Miller had an 11-yard run on the series, while senior fullback Tamar Butler had runs of 10 and nine yards. Miller led all rushers with 91 yards.

To help set up the second touchdown, senior safety Phillip Stevenson had an 18-yard interception return.