Warriors blanked at Blankenship

OAK RIDGE — All good things must come to an end.

A winning-streak of 28 games and a run never before seen in the state’s high school football history came to a close Friday.

In a TSSAA Football Playoffs Class 5A semifinal game, the No. 1 ranked defending state champion Riverdale Warriors (13-1) lost 17-0 to No. 4 Oak Ridge (13-1) at Blankenship Field.

Oak Ridge will play No. 7 Ravenwood (13-1), a 28-10 winner over Memphis Ridgeway, in the Class 5A BlueCross Bowl 7 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 3 at Floyd Stadium, in the last of five state championship games at MTSU next weekend.

It was the first time the Warriors had been shut out since a 6-0 regular-season loss to Lebanon in 1993 and the first time they had been shut out in a playoff game since a 28-0 loss to Tullahoma in 1979.

The loss put an end to a five-year streak of state championship game appearances, a record they co-hold with Brentwood Academy.

It was also the first time the Warriors had ever lost to the Wildcats, winning the five previous meetings, including four semifinal contests, and the first time they had lost in a state semifinal game, winning their nine previous games.

“It was their time, apparently,” said Riverdale head coach Gary Rankin. “I never felt like we were in the game. They had the two quick scores early and we could never overcome it, but they outplayed us in every phase of the game, offense, defense and the kicking game.”

It didn’t take long for the Wildcats to get on the board. Two passes from Connor Gulmire to Revel Coffey did most of the damage on a 73-yard drive that took just 1:48 off the clock. The junior quarterback hit Coffey on a 47-yarder for the touchdown.

The Wildcats scored again less than five minutes later on a 52-yard Gulmire to Alonzo Douglas pass.

“We had a couple of bad breaks and turnovers and penalties finally caught up with us,” said Riverdale senior linebacker/fullback Kit Hartsfield.

The Warriors had four turnovers, losing two fumbles and getting two passes intercepted, both by Coffey.

After the first touchdown, Riverdale drove to the Wildcat 21, but failed to convert a fourth-and-nine fake field goal play and turned the ball back over to Oak Ridge, which took only two plays before the second touchdown.

“I talked to George Quarles (head coach of perennial Class 4A power Maryville) and I asked ‘what did you do to beat Memphis Melrose in last year’s championship game?,” said Oak Ridge coach Stanton Stevens. “He said, ‘coach, you need to get off to as fast a start as possible.’ He said if we had anything in our bag of tricks use them early. Then do a good job of running the ball.”

That plan work.

Junior Connor Gulmire, the lesser-known of the Gulmire brothers, completed 7-of-13 passes for 193 yards. He was 4-of-5 for 158 yards in the first half. Older brother and Mr. Football finalist Spencer Gulmire finished with 114 yards on 23 carries, all but 37 yards came in the second half.

Riverdale Mr. Football finalist Gaston Miller finished with 146 yards on 20 carries.

“We’ve been struggling all season with turnovers and they made a few plays,” Miller said. “We didn’t make plays and we turned the ball over.”

It was the fifth time in the last six years Riverdale finished the season with at least 13 victories.