Matt Vines

EAST POINT – Riverdale Academy will attempt to bounce back from a season-opening loss when the Rebels head to Tallulah Academy on Friday.

Riverdale is in a bit of an unfamiliar place given that the Rebels have won their first game in every season since 2019.

But the Rebels have plenty of lessons to learn from their 35-14 loss to Prairie View Academy, lessons they intend to load up for the trip east into the Mississippi River Delta.

“The beginning of the game showed the type of team we can be,” said Riverdale coach Nathan Edie. “I think our boys know what it will take for them to be the best they can be.

“And as coaches (Denver Williams and I) know what we need to do to be better also.”

Ashton Almond and Kaidyn Williams shared quarterback snaps as Edie sought to keep each guy as fresh as possible.

Almond’s 61-yard run set up a Williams’ short touchdown scamper as Riverdale raced to score on its opening drive against Prairie View, but the Spartans responded with 28 points over the next three quarters to take a commanding lead.

Almond led the way on the ground with 112 yards on 16 carries and a fourth-quarter touchdown. Williams completed Riverdale’s only two passes (2-4 for 52 yards) while Almond missed on both of his pass attempts.

Tanner Carlisle snagged a 44-yard pass while Almond added an eight-yard catch.

Defensively, Almond tallied a team-high seven tackles with Carlisle chipping in three.

Riverdale actually outgained Prairie View 252-250, but converting just 3-9 on third down slowed the Rebels.

Riverdale would love to control the clock on long, meandering drives, but Tallulah showed plenty of offensive pop in its opening week.

Tallulah enters Friday’s matchup at 1-0, using a strong second half to pull away from Tensas Academy in a 48-26 win.

The Trojans raced to a 28-6 lead before a pair of Tensas Academy scores sliced the lead to 10 at halftime.
But tight end Denton Ray caught two of quarterback Luke Moberley’s three touchdown passes as the Trojans proved to be too much.

Riverdale battled past Tallulah, 20-12, this past season.