TOM KREAGER - Staff Writer

FAYETTEVILLE — Riverdale found itself in unfamiliar territory last night at a packed Pit and enjoyed every minute of it.

Playing the role of underdog, the Warriors knocked out No. 1 Lincoln County 19-13 in the Class 5A quarterfinals.

The win over a top-ranked team was a feat Riverdale hasn’t had the opportunity to do often. Riverdale, which has played in the last three state title games, normally is among the top teams in the state.

“Coach (Gary Rankin) said all week we had never beat a No. 1 team in state,” junior Chris Perkins said. “We’re usually No. 1.

“And this is a good (Lincoln County) team.”

The win avenges a Week 3 loss to the Falcons and marks the second consecutive season Riverdale (11-2) ended Lincoln County’s season. Last season, Riverdale defeated the Falcons (12-1) in the first round of the playoffs after losing at Lincoln County earlier in the season.

“We have definitely improved,” Rankin said. “We were a young team eight to nine weeks ago. They have matured well.”

Riverdale will travel to Oak Ridge next Friday.

“This is a great victory for this team,” senior Spike McDaniel said. “We had a mindset to get past Week 3 of the playoffs and we want to go for a state championship.”

After shutting down the Falcons’ offense in the first half, Riverdale managed to match Lincoln County’s high-potent offense.

A Michael Edmiston 30-yard touchdown pass to Lane Jackson cut a 16-6 deficit to 16-13 with 47 seconds left in the third quarter.

However, Riverdale took the ball on a 13-play drive that ended with a Tyler Campbell 33-yard field goal to push the lead back to six.

The Falcons had two final opportunities to score. But each drive ended on an incomplete pass to preserve the win for Riverdale.

“We beat ourselves last time,” McDaniel said. “We had to go after it play by play. That was our saying this week.”

Riverdale took advantage of a pair of Lincoln County miscues to grab a 16-6 lead at halftime.

Riverdale’s Tamar Butler recovered a fumble on a botched punt return at the Lincoln County 19.

The Warriors’ Dave Thomas then scored on a 10-yard run on third-and-goal. Thomas ran to the left on a quarter sweep and was met at the Lincoln County 3 by three defenders. Thomas spun to the inside as he was hit and placed the ball over the goal line for the score to grab a 14-6 lead with 5:34 left in the first half.

“I just wanted to get in,” Thomas said. “I saw the line and I just put the ball out. I guess it crossed the line before they knocked it out of my hand.”

Riverdale’s defense, which pressured Edmiston throughout the first half, picked up its intensity after the score. Two penalties on the ensuing drive brought the Falcons’ offense deep into is territory before Perkins and Jonathon Gooch sacked Edmiston in the end zone for a safety and a 16-6 lead.

Lincoln County broke a scoreless tie midway through the first quarter when Edmiston found receiver Arrington Bryson near midfield.

Bryson made a Riverdale defender miss then ran toward the Lincoln sidelines, scoring on a 47-yard pass reception. The Falcons’ extra-point attempted missed to keep the lead 6-0.

The Warriors drove on the ensuing possession. Gaston Miller capped an eight-play drive with a 9-yard touchdown run when he juked a defender to the outside, before running to the inside for a 7-6 lead.