Eagles extend winning streak
The way they ran up and down the field at Panther Stadium on Tuesday night, one might think Riverside Middle played there permanently.
Cody Marsh, Riverside Middle's tailback, runs 12 yards for a touchdown, the Eagles' first score in the game against Evans Middle. They won 35-20 on Tuesday night at Evans.
Photo by Jonathan Heeter
The Eagles looked like a varsity team in a 35-20 victory over Evans Middle, effectively sealing the county championship for Riverside.
The Eagles (5-0) will face Grovetown (1-4) Tuesday at the Brierpatch. An Eagles victory guarantees the county championship and an undefeated season, the first in school history.
A loss to the Patriots would give Riverside a tie atop the standings with Lakeside (5-1). The Eagles would still be the county champions because they beat Lakeside 36-30 on Sept. 14.
"I'm real proud of how our kids have played," said coach Dan King. "We have had a great season, but we still have one more game to go."
Riverside knocked off Evans with a power running game that had four players rush for more than 40 yards.
Brian Andrews led the way with 73 yards, including a 59-yard touchdown in the third quarter. The eighth-grader also returned a kickoff 62 yards for a score in the second quarter.
"(Andrews) is a great player," King said. "He does a lot of things kids his age can't."
Cody Marsh, Michael Paul and Jay Price added 40-plus-yard games for the Eagles.
"We have a lot of good skill position players on this team," King said. "We don't rely on one kid. That has been our mantra, to divide the carries so the defense can't focus on one player."
The offense has been so spread out that three running backs have posted 100-yard games. The backfield averages more than seven yards a carry and has rushed for more than 1,100 yards.
The potent backfield has led an offense that averages 33 points a game and has never punted.
"Our statistical numbers are amazing," King said. "To not punt for an entire season is impressive."