Riverdale falls 28-27 to Hendersonville in double OT

BY TOM KREAGER • This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it • August 28, 2009

HENDERSONVILLE — Riverdale first squandered a late fourth-quarter lead.

Then it lost in a heartbreaker.

Riverdale kicker Grayson Powell's extra point attempt in double overtime was deflected by Hendersonville junior lineman Cayman Russell on Thursday night, handing the Commandos a 28-27 win over the four-time Class 5A state champions.

"This was just one of those games that has a stench about it," Riverdale coach Ron Aydelott said. "You can feel it and know that it's coming. But there was nothing we could do about it.

"Sometimes you can escape with a win. Sometimes you don't."

The extra point attempt came after senior quarterback Cody West scored on the Warriors' first play of the second overtime. The snap on the PAT was high, giving Russell a chance to get to the ball.

"It's an awesome feeling," Russell said. "I can't believe I got through."

Aydelott said he debated going for the two-point conversion after the score, but didn't feel confident on a play.

"We'd been really kicking the ball well," Aydelott said. "I figured we'd just try and stop them again because the defense was playing well there."

Chris Moore scored on a 1-yard run on fourth down for Hendersonville's second overtime score. Nigel Jones' 9-yard score on fourth down in the first overtime kept Riverdale from winning it in one overtime.

"We just kept fighting," Hendersonville coach Bruce Hatfield said. "We felt we always had a chance."

Marcellous Odom scored on Riverdale's first play in overtime on a 10-yard scamper to the right side of the end zone.

West led Riverdale with 97 yards rushing on 16 carries and had two touchdowns. Rodney Parker added 80 yards on 13 carries.

Riverdale finished with 221 total yards. Hendersonville had 254 total yards — 167 on the ground.

Both teams hurt themselves with penalties. Riverdale had 45 yards in penalties. Hendersonville had 55.

Riverdale (1-1) led 14-7 with 5:03 left in regulation when the Commandos (1-0) put forth their best possession of the second half. Elijah Powell hit Troy Dye on a slant pattern for a 9-yard touchdown with 41.5 seconds left to tie the game 14-14. Hendersonville's game-tying drive lasted 4:22 and amassed 69 yards.

The scoring drive was Hendersonville's lone second-half possession that went past the Riverdale 45-yard line. Three of the Commandos' five second-half possessions were plagued with penalties. Two series included long Riverdale sacks.

Riverdale moved the ball 78 yards on its opening possession of the second half, eating up 5:08 of the third quarter. Rodney Parker capped the nine-play drive with a 2-yard touchdown run.

West kept the series alive on third-and-14 when he hit David Miles-Peppers for a 22-yard completion. The completion was West's first in four attempts. Miles-Peppers scored two plays later.

Both teams struggled to move the ball in the opening half, managing seven points apiece. West accounted for the Warriors' offense when he broke through a hole on the left side and ran up the Riverdale sideline for a 44-yard touchdown run with 11:13 left in the second quarter.

Hendersonville answered on the ensuing drive. Jon Snavely ran off-tackle on the right side of the Commando offensive line, breaking free for a 40-yard touchdown run.

"This was really a sloppy game," Aydelott said. "I guess you could say we outslopped them."

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