(Avoca, IA) — It had been 5 years since Riverside had won against arch-rivals AHSTW but the wait is over as the Bulldogs won it 32-21 on Friday night.
The game was sloppy and marred by penalties, bad snaps and turnovers but Riverside scored 20 straight points and Jaxon Gordon had another big game to lead the Bulldogs to the victory.
Riverside tried a pooch kick to start the game but the Vikings got the ball at the 50 but on the first play from scrimmage, Dayton Osbahr was picked off by Cole Jeppesen. The Bulldogs committed two false starts and went 3 and out on their first drive.
AHSTW would get on the board first as Gatlin Gettler broke a run along the sideline for a 43 yard TD to make it 7-0.
Riverside answered quickly by pounding Gordon right at the Vikings and it led to a 5 minute drive and a Jeppesen 3 yard TD run but the 2 point conversion failed — it was 7-6 Vikes.
On AHSTW’s next drive, on 4th down the snap to Osbahr the punter was low and he was tackled for a 9 yard loss at his own 27 yard line. With a short field, Gordon punched it in for a 1 yard TD run to make it 12-7.
The Vikings answered with a Gettler 16 yard TD run after once again starting at midfield to retake a lead 14-12.
Both teams went 3 and out but Riverside was able to win the field position and pin the Vikings back to their own 10 and the Bulldogs got a great return on the punt from Jeppesen to start at the AHSTW 29 and Landyn Schoenrock hit Jeppesen with a 16 yard TD pass. Riverside led 20-14 at the half.
Riverside kept the momentum in the 2nd half as Schoenrock found Jeppesen wide open for a 55 yard TD pass to make it 26-14.
AHSTW would commit 2 turnovers on their next two possessions and Gordon would convert a 12 yard TD late in the 3rd quarter to make it 32-14.
The Vikings got great field possession on a Riverside penalty after the TD and Collin Harder scored on a 2 yard TD to cut the lead to 32-21 but Riverside started an 8 minute drive to use up most of the 4th quarter. The Bulldogs would fumble it to prevent getting any points but it was too little too late for AHSTW.
Final Stats
Riverside
Jaxon Gordon 33 carries, 176 yards, 2 TD
Jack Branan 10 tackles, 1.5 TFL
Cole Jeppesen 5 receptions, 97 yards 2 TD; rushing TD
Landyn Schoenrock 6-8 100 yards 2 TD
AHSTW
Gatlin Gettler 5 carries, 67 yards, 2 TD
Drew Lee 11 carries, 47 yards
Dayton Osbahr 5-12 69 yards 2 INT
Riverside (2-1) 6-14-12-0 — 32
AHSTW (1-2) 7-7-0-7 — 21
