(Oakland) Riverside finished out the 2020 regular season in style Friday night with a 15-0 win over SW Valley. They become just the 2nd team to top the Timberwolves this season.
Caden Manzer made the most of his only carry of the night, taking it 25 yards for the go ahead score late in the third quarter. Austin Kremkoski’s 62 yard TD run with 3:05 to play sealed the deal. The Bulldogs would add a late safety. Kremkoski’s 62 yard sprint to the end zone was by far the biggest play of the night for the home squad which goes to 6-1 and likely earned a chance to host a playoff game next week. Playoff matchups are expected to be released at noon on Saturday.
SW Valley chewed up over 11:00 off the clock in the first quarter, but Riverside’s defense was able to bend and not break. The Timberwolves also had some costly penalties that derailed scoring chances throughout the night. Brendan Knapp led the offensive attack for the visitors with 27 carries for 106 yards, but they completed only one pass all night for nine yards and Drake Woods intercepted his 5th pass of the season. Hunter Crill added 53 yards on 11 carries.
Riverside put together some strong stretches through the air, especially in the 2nd quarter when Austin Kremkoski hit on 4/5 throws for 53 yards. Kremkoski finished the game 11/24 passing for 110 yards. Jace Rose caught three passes for 38 yards, Ethan Reicks had a ten yard catch, Brogan Allensworth hauled in a nine yard reception, Drake Woods caught two for 31 yards, Rhett Bentley one catch for 11 yards, and Caden Manzer had three catches for 11 yards. Bentley carried for 25 yards on 11 carries. Kremkoski totaled 75 yards on 10 attempts.
In addition to Manzer’s TD run he was in on 13 tackles defensively. After the game Manzer commented on the win, “It feels great. It’s all we’ve been practicing for. Now we are ready for the playoffs. Everyone bought in to what Coach Frain tells us and everyone wants to win. That’s what we are doing.” In regards to his 25 yard scoring run up the gut, “I mean it was blocked perfectly. I can’t thank my linemen enough. They got the ‘backers. All I had to do was run.” Manzer admits the attitude around the program has done a 180 degree turn. “It’s changed a lot and I like it. Everybody is willing to do whatever coach wants us to do. We’re all ready to play football. It wasn’t like that when I was a freshman. No one cared and now that’s all we do is care.”
Kaiden Hendricks had seven tackles while Rhett Bentley and Eddie Vlcek each made six stops. Vlcek was also an anchor on the offensive line. The Bulldog’s turnaround has largely hinged on better play up front. Vlcek says it took work to get there, “It was a lot of lifting. Getting thrown around freshman and sophomore year really sucked, so I wanted to get better.”
