Streaks going in opposite directions
continued Friday.
With a 41-7 win over Blackman at
Tomahawk Stadium, No. 4 Riverdale (2-1, 2-0 in Region 4-5A) won its 72nd
straight region/district game and 19th in a row against city opponents,
improving to 8-0 all-time against Blackman.
For the Blaze (0-3, 0-2), the loss
was the 14th straight dating back to the 2004 season.
“It’s a big win, especially when
it’s a rivalry game,” said Riverdale senior halfback/linebacker Ben
Atakpu, who rushed for one of the Warriors’ six touchdowns.
“You can’t think of it as 14,”
said Blackman senior nose guard Jareth Swanson. “It’s another day
gone. You have to get ready for next week. If you focus on the losses
you’ll never get better.”
After going without a completed pass
in last week’s 33-27 loss at Chattanooga McCallie, Riverdale scored
twice through the air. Senior quarterback Scott Thomas connected twice
with senior tight end Rydell Mayes. The second came with just 19.5 seconds
remaining in the first half and it gave them a 28-7 lead.
Riverdale took a 7-0 lead on an
8-yard run by senior fullback Monty Newsom, then, on the first play of the
second quarter, Thomas hit Mayes for a 30-yard TD pass.
Blackman fumbled the ensuing kickoff
and four plays later Thomas put the Warriors up 21-0 on a one-yard sneak.
The Blaze got on the board behind the running of junior quarterback
Mauricio Wallace, who scored on a 51-yard run. Earlier on the drive, he
had a 22-yard carry.
Atakpu and junior halfback Josh Towe
had second-half touchdowns.
“I thought the kids were
business-like and we controlled both lines of scrimmage,” said Riverdale
coach Ron Aydelott.
Riverdale rushed for 395 yards and
had 22 first downs to Blackman’s three.
Wallace was the game’s leading
rusher with 83 yards. Riverdale’s Jeremy McClain rushed for 78 yards on
12 carries. Newsom had 76 yards on 10 rushes. Eight Riverdale backs rushed
for at least 24 yards.
Blackman played without senior
starting tailback Jeremy Mimms. He was serving the first of a two-game
suspension.
— Steve Heath, 278-5169
