Riverside quarterback Ryan Cerino scored on a 1-yard run with 8:51 left in the second quarter for a touchdown and a 7-6 lead over heavily favored Byrnes at Nixon Field.
In fact, the Warriors defense forced Byrnes to punt on its first two possession before the Rebels mustered a touchdown on a Mason Streater to Chavis Dawkins 39-yard pass play with 4:57 left in the first quarter.
This was the same Riverside team that beat Boiling Springs one week earlier in overtime that gave the Warriors their first Region II-4A victory since elevated to the higher classification.
Byrnes came back for a 49-14 win giving the Rebels a 6-1 overall record and 3-0 in the region. Riverside is 2-5 overall and 1-2 in the region.
An 81-yard return on a kickoff and 2-point conversion put Byrnes in the lead for good, 14-7. Another score upped Byrnes lead to 21-7 at halftime.
Cerino scored again in the fourth quarter to account for Riverside’s second TD.
Dondre Thompson, a freshman, gave Byrnes’ defense fits gaining 148-yards rushing.
The Rebels scored three times in the third quarter to take control of the game.
Riverside travels to Mauldin next Friday night and Byrnes is at J.L. Mann.