Riverdale rumbles past Smyrna

MURFREESBORO — Smyrna gave No. 1-ranked Riverdale all it could handle — for a half.

The Warriors exploded for 23 unanswered points in the first 7:18 of the third quarter to break open their Region 4-5A game with the Bulldogs to cruise to a 51-20 victory last night at Tomahawk Stadium.

Riverdale (8-0, 5-0 in Region 4-5A) scored 21 points off turnovers in the third quarter, and the Warriors sacked Smyrna quarterback Sonny Gray for a safety in the quarter.

“It was a different ballgame in the second half,” Smyrna Coach Philip Shadowens said. “We had a snap go over a punter’s head and that started a trend. We couldn’t do anything to change the momentum back, and you have to do that.”

Riverdale improved its winning streak to 23 games.

The Warriors have won 68 consecutive region games.

Riverdale’s defense didn’t allow the Bulldogs past midfield or a first down in the second half until Smyrna put together its final scoring drive in the waning minutes of the game.

Riverdale broke a 21-14 halftime score by forcing a bad snap on a punt attempt on Smyrna’s first second-half drive. Gaston Miller scored from a yard out on the next play to give Riverdale a 28-14 lead.

The Warriors’ defense forced a safety on Smyrna’s next possession to push the lead to 30-14.

Gray would throw his second interception of the game to Shayne Rollins to end the Bulldogs’ third drive of the second half. Two plays later, Miller scored on a 23-yard run.

Riverdale sophomore Jeremy McClain then recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff. Three plays later, Riverdale quarterback Scott Thomas scored on a 5-yard run for a 44-14 lead with 4:42 left in the third quarter.

“At halftime we talked about putting more pressure on Gray,” Butler said. “We wanted to keep pressure on him because we know we can let him set his feet. If he gets his feet set he can throw the ball well.”

Gray finished the game with 199 yards passing. He had 200 yards at halftime.

Riverdale’s first score came as Thomas rolled out to his right and found a streaking Shayne Rollins past the Smyrna secondary for a 76-yard touchdown reception.

The Warriors pushed the lead to 14-0 on their next series after Rollins toss the ball behind him to Miller, who sprinted up the sidelines for Riverdale’s second TD.

But Smyrna (4-4, 3-2) answered as Gray went back to the air. Gray found sophomore Will Martin for a 39-yard reception where Martin leaped up with two Riverdale defenders and pulled the ball down and was tackled at the Riverdale 26.

Four plays later, Gray scored on a 1-yard plunge with 2:19 left in the first half.