(Oakland) Riverside got off to a picture perfect start and waltzed to a 53-12 home win over AHSTW in the first round of the playoffs. It’s the program’s first playoff victory since they went to the dome in 2001.
Drake Woods intercepted three passes to run his season total to a state best eight picks. Immediately following his first takeaway of the night, which came on AHSTW’s initial series, he ran in a jet sweep for a 25 yard TD on the Bulldog’s opening play from scrimmage.
Austin Kremkoski was dialed in with the passing attack as he hit on 8/12 passes for 207 yards and five scores all in the first half. Woods was Kremkoski’s top target with three grabs for 102 yards and three scores. Brogan Allensworth hauled in a 34 yard TD and Rhett Bentley had three catches for 53 yards including a 43 yard TD. Bentley did plenty of damage on the ground as well to the tune of 195 yards on 15 attempts. The junior back had TD totes of 65 and 29 yards. Kremkoski and Bentley credited the protection provided and holes opened up by the front line of Kaiden Hendricks, Eli Ryun, Gage Schuster, Wyatt Hough, and Eddie Vlcek.
Outside of AHSTW’s Denver Pauley popping off TD runs of 50 and 18 yards, the Riverside defense held the visitors under wraps. Besides the Viking’s two scoring plays, they were limited to just 66 yards. In addition to the three Drake Woods interceptions, JJ Wilson and Jace Rose each recovered fumbles as the home squad was +5 in the turnover margin for the first half.
Riverside led 20-0 at the end of the first quarter and 46-6 at halftime. AHSTW bows out at 2-3*. Riverside is 7-1 heading into a 2nd round date with Lawton-Bronson next Friday. The Eagles are 5-2. The two teams have one common opponent. Riverside beat Tri-Center 27-22 in Week 4 and Lawton-Bronson topped the Trojans 14-8 in the first round of the playoffs.
*AHSTW has the possibility to make up three playing dates that they missed in the regular season if they choose to do so.
