Matt Vines

EAST POINT – The first win for Riverdale Academy football has been elusive as the Rebels have faced a juggernaut of an early schedule.

Riverdale (0-4) faces challenges of small roster size and injuries, but the clouds may be parting this week as cooler temperatures and Tensas Academy (1-3) come to town Friday.

Quarterback Tanner Carlisle continues to make progress with his leg injury, not missing games but slowly gaining full strength.

Carlisle broke an 11-yard run this past week in which he evaded multiple tacklers and stiff armed one more, evidence that the athletic signal caller is becoming more mobile.

“Tanner is getting better, but he’s still not quite a full go yet,” said Riverdale coach Nathan Edie. “The worst part about leg injuries is not the injury itself but trusting it as it heals.

“We don’t ask him to do more than what we feel like he’s capable of in that moment.”

One player who’s shown he is more capable and gaining additional responsibility is Ben Moseley.

The linemen appeared in the backfield and was the primary running back this week, punishing defenders at the end of his runs.

“Ben is definitely going to be a bigger part of our offense going forward,” Edie said. “He takes some of the pressure off Tanner and Ashton, and he runs extremely hard.

“Obviously he’s not used to running the ball, so he’s adjusting. But he’s willing to do whatever he can to help us win.”

It’s that spirit that could help Riverdale break through against a Tensas Academy bunch that the Rebels are accustomed to beating.

Riverdale won the past two seasons by 50-plus points and has taken the past four meetings since 2020.
To keep the winning ways in this series, Riverdale understands it must sustain offensive drives and limit the big plays defensively that’ve led to its first four losses.

“I am a believer that the next game is always the most important game,” Edie said. “The boys understand they have to execute on offense and tackle on defense to win this game.

“Tensas is a young team but pretty athletic. They have a really good running back and like to spread the field. We’ll have to cover in space and box in their playmakers.”