By LEONARD GRAY

PORT BARRE – Despite overwhelming stats in some areas, the Riverside Rebels fell short in the most important statistic – the score – losing their 3A semifinal to Port Barre, 23-8, and sending the Red Devils to the Superdome Classic next week in their stead.

Riverside led on first downs, 13-10, and overpowered in the passing game, with 11 completions of 22 attempts for 208 yards. At the same time, Port Barre managed two completions of three attempts for only 41 yards.

What crippled the Rebels’ chances, though, were turnovers – losing two fumbles and an interception – while the Red Devils committed no turnovers.

Riverside took the opening kickoff from Port Barre’s Cade Hollier, who was to boot most of the kickoffs into the end zone. The Rebels began at their own 20 but capped off their 12-play drive on a second-and-four situation when they lost a fumble.

One highlight of that drive was a 34-yard halfback pass from Wes Hotard to Dexter Falgoust.

Port Barre picked up from their own 5-yard line and drove 20 yards before stalling. However, on a fourth-and-four situation, the Rebels were penalized on a blocking from the back and handed the ball back to Port Barre.

That time, seven plays later, the Red Devils punted as the game went into the second quarter. Riverside had the ball back and drove back up the field until on a fourth-and-16, a low snap was ruled dead and Port Barre took over at the Riverside 25-yard line.

On first down Steven Bourgoyne hauled in a 25-yard pass from Alex Bing for the opening touchdown of the evening, early in the second quarter. The Hollier PAT was good, and the Red Devils had a 7-0 lead.

With the Rebels on the move again, a Riverside fumble ended up in Devils hands at the Port Barre 49 and eight plays later, Bourgoyne snared the Bing 16-yard pass for the TD with less than a minute remaining in the half. Hollier’s PAT was good for the 14-0 Red Devil lead.

In the third quarter, Riverside booted the opening kickoff and stalled the driving Devils at the Rebel 23-yard line, where Riverside took over. However, that drive went nowhere fast and a bad punt snap went loose and Hotard tried to boot it out but the play was ruled a safety, giving the Red Devils a 16-0 lead.

On the third play of the fourth quarter, Port Barre’s Daniel Francis scrambled 15 yards for a Red Devil touchdown and, with Hollier’s PAT, were up 23-0.

Later, Riverside got the offense up following a 22-yard punt return by Falgoust to the Port Barre 37-yard line. Nine plays later, Scott Poirrier connected with Falgoust on a 14-yard touchdown pass to put the Rebels on the board. Zack Cambre darted in for the two-point conversion to nudge the score to 23-8.

The onside kickoff ended up in Red Devil hands, as Jamal Andrus recovered the bouncing ball at their own 48-yard line. The Red Devils pushed to the Rebel 32 before giving up the ball on downs on the Riverside 27-yard line.

With only 1:30 left in the game, a 31-yard pass from Poirrier to Falgoust gave Rebel fans hope. However, with a first-in-10 at the Port Barre 42-yard line, Matthew Durham intercepted the Rebel pass and dashed Riverside’s Dome dream. Two knees later, and the game ended.

Falgoust led rushing for Riverside with eight carries and 149 yards. Poirrier was 10 of 21 passes for 174 yards. Jared St. Amant had 13 receptions for 72 yards and Zack Cambre had 17 receptions for 51.5 yards.

Daniel Francis led Red Devil rushing with 18 carries for 108 yards. Alex Bing’s passing stats were two completions of three attempts, while receiver Steven Bourgoyne had two receptions for 41 yards.