NEW ORLEANS — The Riverside Academy Rebels (10-1) traveled to New Orleans Friday and left with 38-15 victory over the Newman Greenies (8-3) 38-15.

It was the second time this season The Rebels played and conquered Newman.

“We played a very good football team tonight,” Riverside Academy head football coach Bill Stubbs said. “We played a much, much, much improved football team from the last time we played them. We did some things early on in the game that we didn’t want to, like dropping the ball.

In the second half, we kind of turned things in our favor when we decided to play Riverside football. We did what we do best. I thought we played well on defense. I was pleased with the results.”

Senior running back Herb McGee scored the last touchdown of the night on a two-yard run with 1:44 left in the game, which was similar to how the game started.

With 1:57 left in the first quarter and after several punts from both teams, the Rebels got on the board as quarterback Jared Butler hit wide receiver Avonti Cannon on a fourth and four play to get RA out from the Newman 25-yard line.

Riverside ran the ball down to the one, and McGee punched the ball in on the next play. The point after was good and the Rebels led 7-0.

Newman answered with a 12-play, 50-yard drive and made a 41-yard field goal, closing the gap to 7-3 with 10:13 left in the half.

The Greenies quickly followed that with an interception and took the ball down to the one-yard line. Two plays later and Newman led 9-7 with 8:27 left in the half.

A Tyler Gauthier field goal brought the Rebels up to a 10-9 lead and after a Newman turnover, McGee hit Gauthier from 25-yards out for a touchdown and a 17-9 lead with 8 minutes left in the third.

After a Rebels’ defensive stop, a Brandon Sanders 30-yard rushing touchdown gave Riverside a 24-9 lead with 3:27 left in the third.

After several turnovers, Sanders scored a two-yard touchdown with 6:38 left on the clock, bumping the Riverside lead up to 31-15.

Newman answered with a quick strike and narrowed the lead 31-15 with a seven-yard and 5:39 left in the game.

Newman later recovered the onside kick and drove the ball to the two-yard line where the Rebels’ defense made an interception in the endzone.

 

By Courtney Griggs