Sharks start big for big win

Riverview scores 28 early and beats Durant 42-0 to stay in playoff contention.

By MIKE READLING
Published October 13, 2006

DURANT - In preparation for Thursday's Class 6A, District 6 matchup with Durant, Riverview kept in mind a two-pronged rallying cry: fundamentals and the playoffs begin this week.

A loss to the Cougars would be devastating for Riverview's postseason hopes. So despite it being only Week 7, the Sharks treated it as a playoff game. Concentrating on fundamentals - tackling, blocking and defense - was their way of making sure they didn't overlook the basics.

With 28 points on its first 15 plays from scrimmage, it was safe to say Riverview's attention to detail would more than pay off. It was just a matter of by how much.

The Sharks walked away with a 42-0 win, dominating the Cougars in virtually every facet of the game. The win puts Riverview (6-1) in a three-way tie for second in the four-team district with one game remaining, against Sarasota. The Sailors play archrival Sarasota Riverview tonight with the opportunity to throw the district into disarray.

"We could wake up Saturday and everybody would be 1-1," Riverview coach Dan O'Regan said. "That would be fun."

More important is how Riverview got to that point.

After Durant (4-4) fumbled on its fifth play of the game, the Sharks scored on a Jahleel Addae 10-yard run. The Cougars put together a long series, but their punt was partially blocked. Three plays later, Antwain Powers scored from 16 yards.

The Cougars put together another extended possession, but Evan Kelly's 43-yard field goal bounced off the left upright. Riverview's answer was a six-play, 80-yard drive that ended with a Ryan McCall touchdown run. The 6-yard carry was the Sharks' 10th of the game and dropped their average to that point to just more than 12.5 yards.

Another Durant punt was followed by an 86-yard pass from McCall to Powers, giving Riverview a 28-0 lead with just less than three minutes left in the first half.

"We knew if we lost this game we wouldn't get to the playoffs," said Powers, who touched the ball eight times and accounted for 201 yards. "We knew we had to take it up a notch, and we did."

[Last modified October 13, 2006, 01:37:10]