Matt Vines

BASTROP – After losing to rival Claiborne Academy at home to open the season, the road doesn’t get any easier in Week 2.
The road is literal as the Rebels (0-1) hit the highways to travel to Bastrop and face Prairie View Academy (1-0).
The Class 2A squad routed Delta Streets Academy, 42-12, in their season opener.
The Spartans, who won the Class 2A MAIS title in 2021, return their top passer, rusher and receiver from a team that won all 11 games in the regular season this past year.
That included a 35-14 decision against Riverdale Academy to open the 2024 season in East Point.
“Prairie View obviously brings a lot of experience back, and a lot of talent,” said Riverdale coach Nathan Edie. “They are a well-rounded team that can play power football or spread you out and beat you with speed.
“The key for us is to cut down on the big plays. Make the plays we can make and sustain our drives on offense.”
Riverdale knows the road and their opponent well after playing in a jamboree there two weeks ago.
The Rebels will certainly hone in on preventing big plays after Claiborne Academy logged key explosive plays to score 30 points in the first quarter.
Riverdale’s small roster prevents them from doing much live tackling in practice, but tackling should improve with two live games under their belts.
Ashton Almond and Tanner Carlisle are stalwarts on offense and defense, and Edie said Carlisle, who was limited in the opener with an injury, is healing.
“Tanner is getting better, but it’s not a process that we are going to rush through,” Edie said. “As a competitor, he wants to play every snap, but he understands the process.
“Practicing has been a little difficult this week because there’s a bug going through the team, but we’re getting better each day.”
Almond has been the team’s primary quarterback for each of the last two seasons, and he and Carlisle will share those duties with other filling a playmaker role at running back or receiver depending on the formation.

Riverdale softball logs first win, competitive in losses
A record of 1-7 might not knock the socks off anybody, but the Riverdale softball team proved it can be competitive against good competition.
The Lady Rebels logged their first win by beating Converse 8-4 as Mary Jones broke a tie game with a fourth-inning grand slam on Saturday. Riverdale likely would have gotten another win as they led Union Christian 7-2 in the first inning before the game was delayed.
Riverdale competed well in losses of 13-6 and 4-0 Logansport that day, a team that’s a regular state title contender in LHSAA Class 1A.
Riverdale took third place in the Central Christian Academy Softball Tournament.
The Lady Rebels nearly knocked off River Oaks in a 17-16 loss Monday before falling to Franklin Academy, 11-3, on Tuesday.