Mark James scored on a 1-yard run and 92-yard interception return to lead Riverside past Mauldin in a Region II-4A victory.
“Tonight we put ourselves in position for the playoffs and we can control our destiny,” Riverside Head Coach Phil Smith said.
The win gives Riverside a 2-2 region record, 3-5 overall, while dropping the Mavericks to the same record in the region but earning the tiebreaker, head to head results, if both teams tied for a playoff spot. Mauldin fell to 4-4 overall.
Mark James scored 12 points in the fourth quarter to secure Riverside’s win, its first Region II-4A victory on the road. James scored on a 1-yard run with 10:48 remaining and Antoine Kahaleh’s extra point gave the Warriors a 19-7 victory.
James capped Riverside’s victory when he intercepted Daniel Bone’s pass at the 8-yard line and raced untouched 92 yards for a touchdown with his teammates and the formidable Warrior Nation crowd cheering as he raced past.
“We’ve overcome a lot of adversity and we came out and made the plays,” James said. “I owe everything to the offensive line on the touchdown run. They blocked great all night and I just followed them. The defensive line kept pressure on (Mauldin’s) quarterback all night and I was able to make a play.”
Most impressive was Riverside answering Mauldin’s Taz Richardson’s 44 reception on a pass from quarterback Daniel Bone in the first quarter. A handful of plays later Austin Brouwer scored on a 1-yard run but Kahaleh’s kick for the extra point was wide left.
Smith wasn’t surprised with his team’s successful comeback on Riverside’s next possession. “We’ve been practicing that all week,” Smith said of the series of plays that resulted in Brouwer’s score. “We did some things that weren’t on video and were successful. Sometimes you can get a team by surprise.”
Emanuel Jackson scored on a 49-yard run on the opening possession of the second half that gave the Warriors the lead for good.
Jeremiah Bogan and Tanner Pittman added interceptions, Jared Laymon had a pair of sacks and Jordan Paden’s punt to the 4-yard line kept Mauldin’s offense in check.
“They worked so hard to get here,” Smith said of his team’s success on the road, two wins, and region success. “Every stage of the game tonight we were able to put it all together. It shows in practice with the kids believing in themselves.”
The Warriors have three games remaining, all region games. Riverside hosts J.L. Mann next week, plays at Wade Hampton on Halloween and ends the regular season at home versus Dorman on Nov. 7.
|
|
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
4th |
Total |
|
Riverside |
0 |
6 |
6 |
14 |
26 |
|
Mauldin |
7 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
First quarter
0.38. Mauldin: Taz Richardson 44 pass from Daniel Bone. (Jonathan Castle kick). 0-7.
Second quarter
10.22. Riverside: Austin Brouwer 1 run (Antoine Kahaleh kick wide left). 6-7.
Third quarter
10:42. Riverside: Emanuel Jackson 49 run (Ryan Cerino sacked, two-point conversion failed). 12-7.
Fourth quarter
10:48. Riverside: Mark James 11 run (Kahaleh kick). 19-7.
2:35. Riverside: James 92 interception return (Kahaleh kick). 26-7.