Riverdale banishes Blackman from playoffs

BY TOM KREAGER • This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it • November 14, 2009

Two weeks ago, Riverdale's football team watched Blackman dive on a muddy football field at its Tomahawk Stadium, celebrating the Blaze's first win over Riverdale in the school's nine-year history.

The Warriors enacted their revenge Friday night on Blackman's field. And they did so in dominating fashion.

Sixth-ranked Riverdale routed the third-ranked Blaze 31-7 at The Inferno to reach the TSSAA Class 6A quarterfinals, where it will play fourth-ranked Oakland this coming Friday.

Riverdale held Blackman (10-2) to 168 total yards — 104 less than its season average. The Warriors caused four turnovers — three interceptions and a recovered fumble.

"Every practice, our coaches reminded us on how they slid up and down our field," said Riverdale senior Chris Mayes, a Mr. Football finalist. "We used that to fuel our fire to put out theirs."

Riverdale (10-2) will play host to Oakland (10-2) in the quarterfinals.

Riverdale scored 17 unanswered points in the first quarter and 14 unanswered in the third quarter.

Trailing 17-7 to open the second half, Blackman's DeShawn Smith fumbled the kickoff, giving it back to Riverdale. Waltez Gaines capitalized immediately — breaking free for a 27-yard touchdown run 15 seconds into the second half.

"That was kind of the theme of the game," Blackman coach Philip Shadowens said. "To start the second half with another negative, it's hard to recover, especially against a good team.

"Riverdale played well throughout and really controlled the line of scrimmage."

Riverdale quarterback Cody West completed 8-of-13 passes for 118 yards with one interception — his first of the year. The Riverdale ground game amassed 167 yards on 37 carries. Adam Davenport's 51 yards on 12 carries led the Warrior rushing attack.

"It was so wet last time, it was barely football," West said. "You couldn't do anything. The weather really opened it up.

"But I really thought Blackman wanted it more last time. We obviously wanted it more this time."

Blackman sophomore I'tavius Mathers led the Blaze with 62 yards on 13 carries.

West scored on a 5-yard-run with 1:26 left in the third quarter to end the scoring.

Riverdale opened the scoring with 8:55 left in the first quarter on a safety after a snap went over the head of Blackman punter Jason Puhr, who kicked the ball out of the back of the end zone to save a Riverdale touchdown.

Riverdale's DeQuinton Sherrill's 7-yard run increased the lead to 8-0. Gaines converted the 2-point play. Marcellous Odom finished the Warriors' first-half scoring when he broke free for a 38-yard touchdown run.

"That's something we've been working on," West said. "We've been starting too flat. We had to pick up the intensity."

Odom, a sophomore, finished with 42 yards on four carries. He also collected two of Riverdale's three interceptions.

Blackman's lone score came late in the half when quarterback Tyrek Collier hit Tay Smith for a 3-yard touchdown pass to cut it to 17-7 with 15.8 seconds left.