Defending champ Warriors cruise to victory

With three first-half scoring drives of nine seconds or less, the No. 1-ranked defending state champion Riverdale Warriors made quick work of the Franklin County Rebels in a 54-14 decision in the first-round of the TSSAA Class 5A Football Playoffs at Tomahawk Stadium Friday.

Riverdale (11-0) will play host to Smyrna (7-4) in a second-round game Friday, Nov. 11.

After a 39-yard punt return by senior Phillip Stevenson, the Warriors needed only seven seconds for junior quarterback Scott Thomas to throw a nine-yard touchdown pass to senior fullback Kit Hartsfield.

Ahead 21-0, the Warriors had the ball just nine seconds, after a fumble recovery by senior linebacker Tamar Butler, before senior tailback Gaston Miller scored on a nine-yard run.

The third quick score came early in the second quarter. After a short Franklin County (4-7) punt and a Rebel offsides penalty, Butler, from the tailback position, scored on a 23-yard run, knocking just eight seconds off the clock from when the possession started.

“Scoring on the first play takes the breath out of them,” said Hartsfield. “It takes away any confidence they might have had. It takes the breath out of them, and the game was over.”

Riverdale had first-half scoring drives of 51 seconds, 59 seconds and 1:25.

Miller added TD runs of 51 and three yards — giving the Vanderbilt commitment 31 on the season — while senior wide receiver Antwaun Smith had an 18-yard run for a score. Shayne Rollins added a 35-yard field goal in the first-half rout.

In the second half, backup running back Jeremy McClain scored on an 85-yard touchdown run.

“That’s the best way to start a game,” said Miller of the quick, early Warrior touchdowns. “It always gives the edge to the team that scores fast. We get out on them that fast our defense is pretty solid.”

While the offense scored quickly, the defense wasn’t on the field long, either, holding Franklin County to just one first-half first down.

All 14 Rebel points came late in the game against Warrior second- and third-teamers.

“We had a great first half, and we just wanted to get the second half over with,” said Riverdale head coach Gary Rankin, whose team had a 45-0 first-half lead. “I thought our defense was real good (Friday).”

The Warrior defense held Franklin County standout running back Braylon Leslie, who had rushed for nearly 1,500 yards on the season, to just 24 rushing yards. Leslie had just eight rushing yards after three quarters.

The win was the 26th straight for the Warriors, who haven’t lost since falling to Germantown in the 2003 BlueCross Bowl.

Riverdale’s first team offense did not play one down of the second half.