Matt Vines

FARMERVILLE – Facing a possible 0-3 start without arguably their best player in quarterback/linebacker Ashton Almond, Riverdale Academy needed to dig deep on Friday on the road at Union Christian Academy.

The Rebels did just that as an explosive offense set the tone, and the defense settled in as Riverdale ran away from UCA in a 54-20 win.

“It always feels good to get a win and see the plays coming together,” said Riverdale coach Nathan Edie. “We had a bit of slow start defensively, but we tightened up as the game went on.

“We traded touchdowns early, but we pulled away later. All around, it was a good game for us, and we learned a lot. We’re looking forward to watching the continuing growth.”

A Riverdale team (1-2) who has a small roster size even when fully healthy, the Rebels had the stamina to separate from Union Christian (1-1) with the help of cooler temperatures.

A front moved in midweek to push temperatures out of 90s and into the low 80s in the second half, which helped Riverdale stay fresher for longer.

“The cooler weather was a factor, but the biggest factor is getting more and more live reps against other teams,” Edie said. “Offensively, you can see the confidence building, and defensively, we are understanding our assignments better.”

Riverdale did return one player in receiver Tanner Carlisle who missed the Week 2 loss.

Carlisle took a few snaps under center, but Kaidyn Williams led the charge for the second week in a row.
Williams was the main driver of Riverdale’s season-high 54 points.

After two road trips to Northeast Louisiana, the Rebels return home to host Porter’s Chapel Academy on Friday in a 7:30 p.m. start.