Riverdale riding Miller in playoffs

Last night he showed why.

Miller rushed for 244 yards on 26 carries and scored two touchdowns to lead the Warriors into the state quarterfinals with a 35-21 victory over Smyrna.

“There is something about having that No. 1 on their team," Smyrna Coach Philip Shadowens said. “He makes a lot of big plays, but he makes a lot of big plays against a lot of people. He’s a terrific kid. He’s an excellent football player too.

“He seems to have a knack for making big plays. I guess that’s why he’s up for Mr. Football."

Riverdale (12-0) will play at Cookeville (11-1), which defeated Wilson Central 21-10 last night. The win extended Riverdale’s winning streak to 27 games and extended its series record to 16-0 against Smyrna (7-5).

Miller had 180 yards by halftime. He gave Riverdale a 7-0 lead with a 1-yard run and later a 14-7 lead when he broke free for a 46-yard touchdown run.

Miller said his offensive line helped lead to his big day as the Warriors’ front line opened gaping holes for him early on.

“The line is really starting to come together as a unit,’’ said Miller, a Vanderbilt commitment. “If they continue to come together and opening holes like they did tonight, we should do pretty good in the playoffs."

But Smyrna adjusted to Miller in the second half.

Riverdale’s Scott Thomas extended the Warriors’ lead to 21-7 on a 1-yard run with 6:42 left in the third quarter. The score came four plays after Tyler Lusk recovered a Sonny Gray fumble at the Smyrna 30.

Tamar Butler, who also is a Mr. Football finalist, gave the Warriors a 28-7 lead with 1:53 left in the third quarter when he broke free for a 35-yard touchdown. The game also featured a third Mr. Football finalist in Smyrna senior Adam Smotherman, a Vanderbilt commitment.

Smyrna cut the deficit to 28-14 as the Bulldogs went to the air. Gray hit Rodriguez Wilks for a 45-yard touchdown pass with 11:46 left in the fourth quarter. Gray finished the game 13-of-25 for 253 yards. Wilks had 144 receiving yards on six catches.

“(Gray) made some pretty good throws,’’ Riverdale Coach Gary Rankin said. “He’s a pretty good athlete. He gets you spread out there. We had quite a few subs in there for their last score.

“Bottom line is that we won."

Butler gave the Warriors a three touchdown lead when he capped a 51-yard, 10-play drive with a 2-yard run for a 35-14 lead. Antoine Hendricks scored the Bulldogs’ final touchdown of the night on a 1-yard run.