By STEVE HEATH
The Daily News Journal

LA VERGNE — It’s one thing knowing what an opponent will do. It’s another thing trying to stop it.

Riverdale came into Friday’s Region 4-5A contest getting 89 percent of its offense (1,337 of 1,499 yards) on the ground.

La Vergne knew it, but couldn’t stop it.

Riverdale (4-1, 3-0) rushed for a season-high 475 yards, 246 in the first half alone and won its 73rd region/district game in a row with a 49-14 victory over the Wolverines (2-3, 0-3) at Freedom Field.

The Warriors are 10-0 all-time against the Wolverines.

“Our line is blocking extremely well,” said Riverdale senior quarterback Scott Thomas, who finished with 171 rushing yards and a touchdown. He had 143 yards in the first half. “They’re opening up pretty big holes for our running backs to run through. Our line is where it starts, and they’re doing a great job.”

Riverdale scored touchdowns on its first seven possessions and took advantage of an early La Vergne mistake.

“They were very sound in what they were doing, and we didn’t do a very good job of stopping them,” said La Vergne coach Don Thomas.

On the game’s first series, Jeremy McClain intercepted an Andrew Rodriguez pass and two plays later Scott Thomas rambled 63 yards for a 7-0 lead. After a Wolverine three-and-out, Riverdale, from the La Vergne 49, called seven straight running plays, finalizing the drive with a Monty Newsom 5-yard touchdown run.

Down 14-0, La Vergne mounted an impressive drive. Starting from its own 25, the Wolverines needed just seven plays — the final five all went for 12 yards or more — before running back Markus Ramsey cut the margin in half on a 12-yard run. But the Wolverines had two more drives inside the Warrior 15 end without points.

McClain finished with two touchdowns and 124 yards, while fullback Newsom added two scores. Halfback Marques Locke rushed for 63 yards and a touchdown.

“Our O-line coaches do a great job and our O-line kids work hard,” said Riverdale Coach Ron Aydelott.