By BILLY GOMILA

Contributing Writer

RESERVE – Last week head coach Mickey Roussel challenged his defense to play better this week after surviving a tight game with H.L. Bourgeois.

The Rebels (2-0) answered and then some last Friday, as Riverside pounded St. Thomas Aquinas 27-0.

“We definitely reversed trends,” said Roussel, whose defense allowed only 118 yards of offense from the visiting Falcons. “I couldn’t ask for a better game defensively. We did what we had to do.”

The Rebel offense was equally effective, pounding the Falcons with small plays and occasionally ripping off some big ones.

Jarid Caesar paced the attack with 190 yards on 17 carries, including three touchdowns as well as a two-point conversion.

The sophomore touched off the Rebels’ scoring on their first offensive play, tearing up the gut for a 55-yard touchdown.

“You can’t draw it up any better than that,” said Roussel. “Our offensive line did a good job.”

Riverside marched down for a second score on their next possession, as Caesar and quarterback A.J. Delaneuville each paced the ground attack. Caesar’s 40-yard score gave the Rebels a 12-0 lead with 2:26 left in the first quarter.

Riverside’s defense continued to stonewall the visitors, but the offense wouldn’t score for the remainder of the half as penalties slowed the Rebel attack.

“It was just foolish mistakes,” said Roussell. “We’ve cut down on them a lot.”

St. Thomas opened the second half by recovering the kickoff at the Riverside 25, but again the Rebel defense held, sacking Falcon quarterback Chris Graves, followed by an interception by Collin Yeargin.

Delaneuville then led a 77-yard scoring drive, taking it in himself on a 30-yard run on a play-action bootleg. Delaneuville finished with 76 yards rushing.

Later in the fourth quarter, Caesar returned a punt 45-yards to set up his third score, which came on a 34-yard run.

Riverside has added eight new players due to the displacement caused by the Hurricane Katrina disaster.

“We feel we’re back to a sense of normalcy,” said Roussel. “But it’s different as far as it changes your perspective.”

The Rebels will take on West St. John Friday in Edgard at 7 p.m.

that (coaches) will be able to find (players),” he said. “If you’re a great player, they’ll find you. Even if you’re playing in a cornfield somewhere.”