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LAPLACE — Riverside Academy scored a big homecoming win against Houma Christian last Friday, ending the night with a 61-0 shutout in the Mickey Roussel Stadium. This week, the Rebels are prepared to keep up the momentum as they travel to face the Country Day Cajuns.

Country Day, 2-2, is looking to get back in the win column after a hard-fought 24-26 loss to Amite in Week Four.

Riverside Academy and Country Day last met in Week 10 of the 2021 season, when the Cajuns came out on top 38-31. Riverside coach Lee Roussel said he’s expecting this week to be a battle between two physical teams.

“Country Day will be competitive as always. Looking at scores from the past years, it’s always been a big game between Riverside and Country Day. They are coming off a tough game against Amite, a storied program and a state championship caliber team, and they play a tough schedule, so playing us won’t be anything they’re not used to,” Roussel said. “It’s going to be a tough one between two teams that are physical and can run the football. I know a lot of the coaches that work with them – I actually coached a couple of them – and they do a good job. They are going to be physical and sound, so we are going to have our hands full.”

Riverside Academy, 3-1, has shown improvement from week to week.

“When we were up against Central Catholic, we let them hang around and come back, and it came down to the last drive in the fourth quarter,” Roussel said. “We’ve grown a bit. We put ourselves in that same situation against Houma Christian, and we were able to put the game away. That was good to see.”

As a coach, Roussel worried the pep rallies, dress down days and other homecoming week festivities would distract from the work that needed to take place Friday night. The Rebels remained focused and ran away with a big win.

Manny Franklin was the first to get the Rebels on the scoreboard Friday night. A touchdown by Elijah Davis furthered Riverside’s lead to 14-0. The Rebels were up 27-0 by the end of the first quarter after Luke Hymel made a pair of stellar passes to Dedric Lastie and Thomas Mazella.

Lastie also had the final score of the game as Riverside secured the 61-0 win.

“This time we spread the ball around, whereas the last couple of weeks have really been running the football with Elijah Davis,” Roussel said. “Guys like Manny Franklin, Dedric Lastie and Scott White got some touches. It was good to save Elijah, and those guys did a nice job of filling in (at the running back position).”

Davis may have only had three carries, but he still managed to score every time he was given the ball, and he ended the night with more than 100 yards. Quarterback Luke Hymel did a great job in the passing game, throwing the ball five times for five big plays.

The defensive line was on point once again, and Roussel said Amiree Alexander and Martrell Henry are among the leaders in the interior.

In other River Parish football news:

• East St. John (4-0) defeated Thibodaux 57-26. The Wildcats face Hahnville (2-2) Friday.
• Charles Catholic (2-2) lost to De La Salle 27-14. The Comets will play at Vandebilt Catholic Friday.
• West St. John (0-3) did not compete in Week Four. The Rams will be back in action this week at Ascension Episcopal.
• Destrehan (4-0) topped Hahnville 41-3. This week, the Wildcats will travel to H.L. Bourgeois.
• Lutcher defeated Vandebilt Catholic 42-7 and will have an away game against South Lafourche.
• James (3-1) had a 33-7 win against Assumption. This week, the team travels to face Woodlawn – Baton Rouge.