By Steve Heath / Prep Editor of The Daily News Journal

Riverdale welcomed the Siegel Stars to Friday’s homecoming football game, but Warrior senior running back/linebacker Tre’ Dalton was the one that shined.

Dalton scored three second-quarter touchdowns, two on rushes and another on an interception return, as Riverdale (4-2, 3-0) defeated Siegel 56-0 at Tomahawk Stadium.

It was Riverdale’s 52nd straight region victory and keeps it in a tie for the region lead with Oakland, a 42-19 winner over Blackman Friday. Riverdale and Oakland meet next week at Tomahawk Stadium.

Siegel (0-6, 0-3) is still in search of the first-year school’s first victory. It travels to Wilson Central (1-5, 0-3 ) next week.

The Warrior win also stopped a two-game losing streak at home. Riverdale had won 23 consecutive games since the field opened, but had lost its last two, a 26-21 defeat to No. 2 Lincoln County an a 36-29 loss to Dickson County last week.

Riverdale scored three of its eight touchdowns on returns. Along with Dalton’s interception, Keaton Anderson and Antwone Smith each returned second-half punts for touchdowns.

Dalton, who had just three carries in the game, led the Warriors with 68 rushing yards.

“I haven’t really been producing like I should,” said Dalton, who began the season as the team’s No. 1 tailback, but has since seen a lot of his carries go to sophomore Gaston Miller and junior Derente Frazier.

“Someone had to come out here and make plays.”

Dalton put the Warriors up 14-0 with a 5-yard touchdown run on the second play of the second quarter. Three plays later, he intercepted a pass from Siegel freshman quarterback Zeke Anderson and returned it 27 yards for a touchdown. He added a 59-yard touchdown run with 2:35 left in the first half to give Riverdale a 28-0 lead.

Riverdale senior fullback Spike McDaniel had two first-half touchdowns. He scored on a 1-yard run on the Warriors’ initial series and ended the first half with an 8-yard touchdown run.

“We had to come out and pick up a win,” McDaniel said. “We had to get back on our feet (after losing last week). We’ve got four region games left and this was the first step of five if we want to win the region and get home field in the playoffs.”

Riverdale’s defense held Siegel to just six first downs. The Stars had four first-half first downs, three coming on Warrior penalties.

“I felt like defensively we had a lot of effort, but our offense didn’t look like it wanted to compete,” said Siegel coach David Watson.

“We need to find 11 players on both sides that want to compete.”