TOM KREAGER - Tennessean Staff Writer

MURFREESBORO — The last time Riverdale senior Spike McDaniel threw a pass he was in the Murfreesboro Mustang Pee Wee Football organization. That changed last night.

McDaniel, a fullback, completed a 4-yard touchdown pass to Chris Perkins with 4:56 left in the first quarter that helped ignite the Warriors to 21 first-quarter points as Riverdale cruised to a 44-7 win over Blackman.

“I used to be the quarterback (in Pee Wee),” McDaniel said. “I started out as a fullback my first year. One year we didn’t have a quarterback. One year I played quarterback and (Blackman quarterback) Brett Emerson was wide receiver. All we did was throw the ball.”

The win clinched a playoff spot for the Warriors (6-2, 4-0 in Region 4-5A).

“We just wanted to come in here and put on a good whupping,” McDaniel said. “We’re trying to win the region and get home field in the playoffs. We were just trying to light it up.”

But McDaniel wasn’t alone in the Warriors’ passing scheme. Junior quarterback Dave Thomas completed two first-half touchdowns. His 24-yard touchdown reception to Austin Kusch gave the Warriors a 21-0 lead with 2:39 left in the first half.

Thomas finished the game with 103 yards passing yards on 9-of-13.

Following Thomas’ touchdown strike to Kusch, Blackman (2-6, 1-3) put together its lone scoring drive of the night. Emerson found tight end John Mark Stephens for a 25-yard score to close the first half.

But Riverdale’s offense was too much for the Blaze.

The Warriors’ ground game picked up 274 yards on 46 carries with backup Gaston Miller picking up 117 yards, including a 37-yard touchdown, on nine carries.