RESERVE — It was a big night for the Riverside Academy Rebels (8-2). Not only did they play their last regular game of the season, it was also their homecoming game.

They celebrated in style with an overwhelming 49-0 victory Thursday over the Sophie B. Wright Warriors (1-8).

With the score up to 42-0 and only five minutes left in the second quarter, Sophie B. Wright took the ball at their own 20-yard line. In less than two minutes, the Rebels took control of the ball when the Warriors went out on downs.

Riverside’s next three plays were all about Brandon Sanders. After a 15-yard pass and a hand off, Sanders scored the last touchdown of the night with 34 seconds left in the first half.

Rebels senior free safety Kendall Martin ran in the first touchdown of the night after Riverside took the opening kickoff back 79 yards.

The Warriors followed that by going three and out with a punt blocked by Harrison Heckathorn.

Just one play later, Sanders scored with a 20-yard rushing touchdown, bringing the score to 14-0.

Sophie B. Wright followed the scoring play by going four and out.

With 1:25 left in the first quarter, Rebels senior Herb Magee hit sophomore wide receiver Jalen Banks for another touchdown, bringing the score to 21-0.

Senior running back Deandre Wilson scored the first touchdown of the second quarter, bringing the Rebels’ lead to 28-0.

With 5:37 left in the first half, sophomore running back Jeremy Gibson ran in a touchdown from ten yards out, bringing the score 35-0.

The Warriors again went out on downs, giving the Rebels control of the ball.

With a little more than three minutes left in the half, quarterback Jared Butler threw a 35-yard touchdown pass to Avonti Cannon.

“We played the first group in the first half of the game and played everybody else in the second half,” Riverside Academy head football coach Bill Stubbs said.

“We got a good shut-out and I feel really good about how we played.”

Even though the Rebels won their game Oct. 30 against Country Day, Stubbs said his team let the Cajuns score too many points.

“We responded from last week and did the things that got us back on track,”

Stubbs said. “There are always things we can improve upon, but we made some really good strides (Thursday) and we got back where we need to be. From that perspective, I’m very, very pleased. You can always improve every week. If you don’t, something is wrong.

“We played well as a unit. We played really well on special teams (Thursday). Outside of that, it is more of what we are looking for on a group effort.”

Riverside will advance to playoffs, but as of press time Friday, the schedule has not been released.

St. Charles Catholic

METAIRIE — The St. Charles Catholic Comets (8-2) trekked to Metairie Thursday to take on the Metairie Park Country Day Cajuns (7-3) for their final regular season game.

St. Charles Catholic defeated the Cajuns 28-7.

At halftime, the Comets were leading 14-7 and dominated the ball in the second half, leaving the Cajuns unable to score.

Comets senior quarterback Patrick Ratliff played his first game after recovering from an injury and managed to score the last touchdown of the night after a 17-play drive from the one-yard line with 4:52 left on the clock.

St. Charles Catholic alternated Ratliff and sophomore Lloyd Nash at the quarterback position.

SCC’s domination of the ball in the second half left the Cajuns unable to make a comeback.

Senior Justin Loupe scored the night’s first touchdown with an eight-yard run off an interception thrown by the Cajuns’ Christian Kerut.

With a tied 7-7 score, Nash threw an eight-yard touchdown pass to Nick Scioneaux to bring the score to 14-7 at the half.

A one-yard touchdown run by Loupe in the third quarter brought the scored to 21-7.

Loupe had 59 rushing yards for the night, scoring twice.

Senior Tahj Smith capped his evening with 107 rushing yards.

Nash contributed 48 rushing yards and four out of seven passes for 28 yards and one touchdown.

Ratliff completed two out of four passes for 11 yards.

St. Charles Catholic will advance to playoffs. The schedule is set to be released Sunday.

By Courtney Griggs