Blackman stops conversion for 1st win over Warriors

BY TOM KREAGER • This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it • October 31, 2009

The Backyard Brawl of 2009 will better be known as the Mud Bowl.

Blackman stopped Riverdale quarterback Cody West's keeper on a two-point conversion attempt in overtime to defeat the Warriors 14-13 at Tomahawk Stadium.

For the Blaze, it breaks an 0-for-10 drought against Riverdale.

"For this group to be the first group to ever beat Riverdale means so much to these kids," Blackman coach Philip Shadowens said. "They've always been told how bad they were and how they had no chance to win games.

"But they continued to practice and get better and they showed they could win games."

Blackman (9-1, 4-1) tied for the regular-season District 7-AAA crown with Riverdale (8-2, 4-1) and Oakland (8-2, 4-1). But Blackman will be the No. 1 seed from 7-AAA in the Class 6A playoffs. Riverdale will be second and Oakland will be third.

The TSSAA will announce the playoff pairings this morning, starting at 7 a.m.

Junior linebacker Jess Patton, who made the game-ending tackle, said the Blackman coaching staff had primed the Blaze defense for the play through watching film.

"When they lined up like that on goal line, he usually keeps it," Patton said.

Steady-to-heavy rain throughout the game forced the contest to be one of field position in the second half.

The two teams combined for 13 fumbles in the contest. Blackman lost two fumbles. Riverdale lost one.

And it was a fumbled ball on the Blaze's first play of overtime that gave Blackman its overtime score.

Sophomore tailback I'tavius Mathers fumbled at the 5-yard line, but teammate Martin Dietrich recovered it in the end zone to make it 13-7. Jason Puhr then hammered the extra point.

Riverdale needed three plays to score in overtime with West scoring. But coach Ron Aydelott elected to go for the win. And Patton made the play.

"Coach called the play, but we have to execute it," Riverdale senior Chris Mayes said. "That's what it comes down to. We didn't make the play."

Mathers' 52-yard touchdown run in the first quarter gave the Blaze a 7-0 lead. However, a quarter later Riverdale answered with its own score when Brandon Constant blocked Puhr's punt. Mayes recovered it deep into the end zone for the score.

Both teams struggled to move the ball offensively in the wet conditions.

Blackman finished with 125 rushing yards on 30 carries and quarterback Tyrek Collier was 5-of-8 passing for 39 yards. However, he was 0-of-2 in the second half .

Riverdale finished with 85 rushing yards on 32 carries. West was 3-of-5 passing for 13 yards.

"Everybody knows that once it started raining it was going to be harder to move the ball," Mayes said. "And the ball got a lot slicker."