(Oakland, IA) — Mason Houser broke a long TD run and Riverside made a goal line stand late in the 4th quarter to defeat AC/GC 21-13 and win the Class A, District 7 title.
With Riverside leading 14-13, Houser broke an 89 yard TD run to give the Bulldogs a 21-13 lead that the Chargers could not overcome.
AC/GC dominated the first half where each team only had two possessions apiece. Riverside won the toss and deferred so the Chargers held the ball for 10 minutes, running 19 plays, converting 3 4th downs and Lane Stringer scored on a 2 yard TD run to make it 7-0 at the 1:41 mark.
The Bulldogs moved across midfield but were forced to punt and AC/GC went on a 20 play drive that took about 8 minutes and Morgun Nolte scored on a 2 yard TD run but the extra point was missed and the Chargers led 13-0 at the half.
Riverside took the ball to start the 3rd Quarter and moved the ball down the field — Houser had 10 carries for 43 yards on the drive and he finished it with a one yard TD run to make it 13-7.
AC/GC started on their own 20 and decided to try to convert a 4th and 1 from their own 29 but the Bulldogs stopped Nolte for no gain. Riverside took advantage of the short field and Cole Jeppesen scampered 14 yards for the TD and the extra point was good for a 14-13 lead.
The Chargers started at their own 30 and the drive went into the 4th quarter and moved all the way to the Riverside 12 yard line and faced a 4th and 3. However, an AC/GC lineman was called for a false start making it 4th and 8. The Chargers ran the option and Andrew Baumert pitched it to Will Skram and he was held two yards short.
From their own 11 with 4:17 to play, Riverside gave it to Houser and he broke it across the middle for an 89 yard TD run to make it 21-13.
The game was not over yet — AC/GC got the ball back with 4 minutes left and quickly moved down the field. Facing a 4th and goal from the one yard line, Baumert was stopped by Peyton Amdor and Cole Jeppesen just short of the end zone.
Riverside
Mason Houser 19 carries, 166 yards, 2 TD; 13.5 tackles
Cole Jeppesen 3 carries, 30 yards, 1 TD; 5 catches for 30 yards
Peyton Amdor 11.5 tackles
AC/GC
Morgun Nolte 24 carries, 105 yards, 1 TD
Andrew Baumert 14 carries, 54 yards
Ryder Cline 15 carries, 46 yards
Lane Stringer 10 carries, 42 yards, 1 TD
AC/GC (5-3, 3-2) 7-6-0-0 — 13
Riverside (6-2, 5-0) 0-0-14-7 — 21
Complete Box Score: AC/GC v. Riverside
