By KEVIN CHIRI

Publisher

MONROE – When you consider the playoff record of the Riverside Rebels ever since coach Mickey Roussel came to town, it is impressive to say the least.

Making the state football playoffs 14 of his first 15 years guiding the team, the Rebels have gained a reputation as a state football contender each year.

So when the Rebs somehow missed the playoffs last year, you had feel sorry for whoever Riverside ran into when the playoffs began this year.

That was evident last Friday when the Rebs opened double-A playoff action against Oakdale, blasting the Warriors 30-14.

That has advanced Riverside to Friday’s second round regional game on Friday here against Ouachita Christian, with kickoff set for 7 p.m.

“I’m really not quite sure how we even missed the playoffs last year,” Roussel said. “It was just a combination of different things that cost us. But I think that has made the team hungrier this year.”

Roussel’s analysis of the club seems right on. Riverside is now 8-2 on the season after their playoff win, and appear to be gaining momentum at the perfect time of the season.

“We really played well against Oakdale, making key plays when we needed them, and right now our strength appears to be the way we come on strong in the playoffs. I think these kids know what it is about and we’re playing well right now,” Roussel added.

If there is any major concern for Riverside in this weeks game, it might be overconfidence since the Rebels are the ninth seeded team in the playoff field, and they will be playing the Ouachita Christian club which is seeded 25th.

“I have tried to tell the kids that this team is not playing like a 25 seed,” the head coach said. “They throw the ball a lot and even though we’re pretty experienced in the secondary, they come out of a tough district, besides having played a tough non-district schedule.”

The Riverside coach is especially pleased to see his club play so well this year since it is a young team with only two seniors starting on offense, and only four on defense.

“We were certainly inexperienced when the year began, but now these kids have 10 games under their belts and it is showing,” he said.

The club looks to quarterback A.J. Delaneuville to lead the offense, as he led them in rushing last week with 69 yards on 18 carries and two touchdowns. Additionally, Jared Caesar ran for 57 yards as the top ball carrier in the backfield.

“I think we had a great run with our teams in ’99 and 2000,” the head man stated. “But this year’s team has some skilled people close to our best years. Right now we just want to keep the momentum up, and if we play our best on Friday night, I think we can keep winning.”

Riverside is shooting for its first state championship, having had three state runnerup finishes.

but never winning a title.