Riverdale rolls past Oakland

The Battle of the ’Boro wasn’t even a bicker.

In the city’s oldest high school football rivalry, Riverdale scored the first two times it had its hands on the football and scored 28 first-quarter points on the way to a 42-7 victory over Oakland at Tomahawk Stadium Friday.

It was the 35th meeting between the two schools. Riverdale holds a 26-9 advantage in the series.

Ranked No. 1 in Class 5A and ranked in the Top 40 in three national polls, Riverdale (10-0, 7-0 Region 4-5A) won its 25th straight game and 70th straight region/district regular season game.

The defending Class 5A BlueCross Bowl champions will be a No. 1 seed and play host to Franklin County Nov. 4 at 7 p.m. in the first-round of the playoffs.

Warrior senior Antwaun Smith scored three first-half touchdowns. He scored on a 38-yard lateral on the game’s first play from scrimmage, then returned a punt 72 yards for a score with still 8:22 remaining in the period.

Later in the half, Smith scored on a 57-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Scott Thomas. In between Smith’s second and third touchdowns, senior tailback Gaston Miller scored three times, giving him 28 touchdowns on the season and at least one touchdown in 19 straight games.

The Vanderbilt commitment scored on runs of 16, 1 and 5 yards. He also set up the Warriors first score with a 55-yard kickoff return.

Riverdale led 42-0 at the half.

Oakland (2-8, 2-5), capitalizing on a 28-fumble return from senior Zach Wolaver, scored its only touchdown in the fourth quarter when junior quarterback Tyler Burnett connected with junior wide receiver Sam Youree on a 4-yard pass play.

Riverdale senior safety Phillip Stevenson had two interceptions. Oakland’s Rondracous Spivey also had an interception.