By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

RESERVE — A year ago, Riverside was met with the very definition of needing to bounce back from adversity.

The Rebels lost a heartbreaker to North Vermilion, 13-12, in a game that saw a Rebel rally fall short in crushing fashion with just over two minutes remaining. Darnell Rachal had just completed a 25-yard pass to Austin Vicknair to the Patriots’ 9. But North Vermilion recovered a fumble on the next snap on a play where some Rebel players claimed they thought to have heard a whistle blowing the play dead.

“We let that play determine the outcome of the game, and it shouldn’t have got to that point,” said Riverside coach Mickey Roussel. “We reminded our players. Last year, we go to White Castle, then come back home and get heartbroken.

But the good thing is, we have 15 starters back. I think we’re better equipped now to deal with those kinds of situations, and even to not find ourselves in them to begin with.”

Friday night’s game between the teams at North Vermilion sees teams that stand on different sides of the spectrum from each other and than a year ago.

Riverside is the fifth-ranked team in Class 2A largely thanks to its crew of veteran players, ones that helped generate a run to the quarterfinals a season ago.

They will face a North Vermilion team that finds itself on the other side of the fence. A senior-laden team a year ago, the Patriots have had to replace most of their starters from a year ago. They also have introduced a new head coach. It lost last week in a close contest, 37-35.

“They present some new challenges for us,” said Roussel. “They lost most of their starters but look pretty good on film from what I’ve seen.

“They lost in a shootout. But we’re concerned with our level of play.”

After Roussel voiced some concerns about his offense after its jamboree win against West St. John, it responded in a big way, rolling up 418 rushing yards in a 48-34 victory over Class 1A White Castle. Rachal, Thomas Crouch, Lloyd Johnson and Dylan Martin all found the endzone in the victory.

“It was pretty amazing,” said Roussel. “Our team goal is usually about 250 yards. We had a lot of snaps, ran some no huddle. It’s certainly what we were looking for.”

Defensively, some concerns cropped up for the coach, though he notes that White Castle’s experienced bunch comprise a squad to watch this coming season.

“When you’ve got guys like (Ronald) Martin and (Tyree) Brackens, even when you’re in position, they might make you miss,” said Roussel. “We knew we were in for a battle against a good team. When it comes time for the playoffs, I think they’ll be around in week two, three and four.”

Safety Tate Scioneaux’s late game interception of Martin qwelled a Bulldogs rally.

Riverside is ranked fifth in Class 2A. Roussel said that he likes how his team has responded to the pressure of expectations — so far — but they they’re not out of the woods yet.

“It’s still a concern. You start reading your clippings and believing you’re better than you are,” said Roussel. “We didn’t practice well at all last week.

It’s something that must get better for us and soon.”