Tennessean Staff Reports

OAK RIDGE — Time and again in the final quarter of last night's Class 5A semifinal game, Oak Ridge found itself in Riverdale territory. Time and again, the Warriors rose up.

The final time came with 25 seconds to play, when linebacker Spike McDaniel pressured quarterback Scott McMahon and tipped his second-and-goal pass into the arms of defensive end Jonathon Gooch. The turnover preserved a 17-13 victory for Riverdale, sending it to the championship game for the fourth consecutive year.

The Warriors (12-2) will face Germantown, a 17-10 winner at Franklin, next Saturday.

''We just couldn't put them away, and our defense kept stepping up and making plays,'' Riverdale Coach Gary Rankin said.

After spiking the ball on first down, McMahon dropped back looking for wide receiver Daley Thompson on the right side. But Oak Ridge (12-2) didn't account for the blitzing McDaniel.

''I thought he was open, but the guy tipped it,'' said McMahon, who finished 10-of-22 for 145 yards. ''Riverdale is a great team and that's what you'd expect in the semifinals.''

It was the third time Oak Ridge had advanced into Riverdale territory in the final quarter. Junior Austin Kusch's second interception of the game stopped the Wildcats first fourth-quarter drive, and an incomplete pass on a fourth-and-23 halted the second drive.

Both of Riverdale's touchdowns came courtesy of the big play. With 1:17 to go in the half, Derente Frazier shook loose for an 88-yard scoring jaunt, giving the Warriors a 10-6 halftime edge.

The other Riverdale touchdown came on a 38-yard run by Dave Thomas in the final minute of the third quarter.