ERIK SANZENBACH / L’Observateur / September 17, 2000

RESERVE – Homecoming was a sweet one for the Riverside Rebels Friday night. For the first time in three weeks, the skies were clear and dry andit was perfect weather for the Rebels to stay undefeated as they rolled over the Vanderbilt Catholic Terriers 19-10.

The big star of the game was Rebel quarterback Damian Melancon who was not only the team’s leading rusher with 62 yards, but also rushed for two touchdowns and passed for one. He completed 11 of 20 passes for 157yards. If there was a down side to Melancon’s performance it was the fourinterceptions he threw.

The Rebels ran riot over the Terriers, out-rushing them 136 yards to 119 yards, out-passing them 157 yards to 49 yards for a total of 293 yards for the Rebels and 168 yards for Vanderbilt.

Despite the stats, it was not an easy win for Riverside. They scored alltheir points in the first half, and the Vanderbilt defense got strong in the second half and prevented the Revels from scoring one point. Terrierdefensive back Beau Bergeron showed a lot of athleticism and intercepted Melancon three times, twice in the second half.

The Riverside defense proved itself to be just as dominant by forcing several fumbles and sacking quarterback John Gordon once.

Vanderbilt took the ball first and quickly ran it down the field behind the running of back Drew Himel who ran for a total of 48 yards during the game. The Terriers used a combination of rushing and passing plays to getdown to the 12-yard line where Himel ran it in for the first score of the evening.

The Rebels got the ball back on their own 37 and with the running of Melancon and Britt Waguespack, they quickly moved down to the Terrier 35. On first and 10, Melancon connected with Gary Entrmont for a 35-yardtouchdown pass to even up the score 7-7.

Vanderbilt had to punt on the next series and the Rebels took over on their own 32. Again, Melancon ran the ball along with running back BrandonDelaneuville. Melancon connected with Jeff Roccoforte for two 22-yardpasses and got Riverside down to the one-yard line where Melancon ran it in for the second score of the evening for the Rebels. Riverside failed tomake the point-after and the score was 13-7.

The Rebel kick-off was a short, wobbly kick that bounced off a Vanderbilt player right back into Rebel hands, and they took over on the Terrier 42- yard line.

However, two plays later, Melancon threw the first of his four interceptions and the Terriers took over and moved the ball down to the four yard line. The Rebel defense held and Vanderbilt was forced to kick afield goal. With 4:41 left in the half the score was 13-10, Rebels.Riverside took over on their 20 and again the combination of Melancon’s running and passing, the Rebels moved down to the one-yard line.

Once more, Melancon dove over the goal line to score for the Rebels.

Riverside tried and failed at a two-point conversion and with 1:45 to go in the first half the score was 19-10.

When the Terriers took over, Gordon threw his only interception of the game throwing it into the arms of defensive back Joel Levin.

However, Riverside threw for their second interception after four plays and that ended the half with the score still 19-10 in favor of Riverside.

The third quarter turned into a defensive battle with both sides running up and down the field for four plays and punting. However, the Rebel defensedid force several fumbles and they sacked the Terrier quarterback for a nine-yard loss.

Vanderbilt seemed to get its second-wind at the start of the fourth quarter running the ball from their own 36-yard line down to the Rebel four behind the running of Quinton Allen.

Allen was the Terrier’s leading rusher with 62 yards. But a determinedand persistent Rebel defensive line kept Vanderbilt from scoring and Riverside took over on their own 8.

The Rebels were forced to punt and again, the Terriers moved the ball efficiently down the field behind Allen. However, penalties and a fumbleforced them back to the 32-yard line, and a 49-yard field goal attempt failed.

The Rebels couldn’t do anything and they punted back to the Terriers.

Vanderbilt tried another field goal from the Rebel 37-yard line. The kickwas blocked, and Vanderbilt linebacker Dustin Price falls on the ball and the Terriers took over again on the Rebel’s 10-yard line.

Four plays later, with a 1:35 to go in the game, Vanderbilt kicked a 26- yard field goal for the final score of the game.

The Rebels ended the game with a run by Melancon on fourth and three, and the Rebels walked away the victors 19-10.

Riverside moves its record to 3-0 and will face Buras next week in a District 9-2A game.

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