Matt Vines

EAST POINT – The Riverdale football team is approaching the midway point in their season as the Rebels welcome Prairie View Academy on Friday for its fifth game of a nine-game schedule.

The Rebels (0-4) are looking for their first win of the season – and first since 2024 – when the Spartans (3-1) come to town.

Because Riverdale didn’t have a sufficient number of players on the team throughout the summer, the Rebels had to hit the ground running in late July once they did field enough student-athletes.

First-year coach Denver Williams has had nearly half a season for players to get to know the system and each other, but the undermanned Rebels have run into a different problem.

Injuries.

While a healthy bunch could soak up experience in their initial positions, injuries have forced the 12-man squad to put whichever players were healthy in positions vacated by an injured player.

That’s lengthened the learning curve a bit for the Rebels, but Williams said he’s getting a few guys back for Friday’s home game.

“We’re getting Brody Tong coming back from a hip injury and also returning Trevor Bell, who had a wrist injury a couple weeks ago,” Williams said. “Jackson Hillman is still out in concussion protocol.

“It’s week-to-week right now because I’ve got guys going places that they haven’t played this year. When injuries happen, you have to adjust. But overall everyone is picking up the offense and getting a little better at learning all the positions.”

Riverdale is coming off a 46-14 loss at Tensas Academy this past week, which is the first time the Rebels have scored in each half of the same game.

Williams said three freshmen linemen are learning in the fire of varsity play, and that unit is making strides.

“Blocking is a key part of putting points on the board, and every week we’re practicing blocking, getting our steps down, and learning to drive through the whistle,” Williams said. “We’re getting better each week, but time is our worst enemy right now.

“Defensively, we’ve got to contain the outside, and our linebackers have to blow up the holes. Keeping those guys inside and allowing our linebackers to make a play in the hole is  a big focus.”

Prairie View is capable of attacking the edges on the ground or through the air. The Spartans handed Newton County a 42-30 loss and have scored at least 40 points in all four contests.

Prairie View has won the past two meetings, including a 46-0 result against Riverdale this past season.

Riverdale last won a meeting in this series in 2022, a 40-36 victory.

---