Matt Vines

EAST POINT – A win and you’re in?

While the power rankings would still need to be sorted out, a Riverdale Academy win could very likely send the Rebels to the playoffs when Tallulah Academy visits Friday for the regular-season finale.

The Rebels (0-8, 0-1 district) would almost surely finish on the outside of the 12-team playoff with a loss, but a win over Tallulah (7-2, 0-1) could generate enough power points to boost Riverdale into the postseason.

More importantly than that, a win would snap Riverdale’s 18-game losing streak that dates back to the 2024 playoffs.

It’ll be a tough task to top the Trojans, who had a seven-game winning streak snapped in a 34-30 loss to Briarfield Academy.

Tallulah has big wins over Tensas Academy (58-8) and Prairie View Academy (64-40), squads that beat Riverdale this season.

“Tallulah is dominant at running the ball due to their power up front,” said Riverdale coach Denver Williams. “Containing the line of scrimmage and meeting guys in the hole are our biggest key points this week.”

But the Rebels shouldn’t be judged just by results alone.

“The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood” as the famous Theodore Roosevelt speech goes.

Riverdale successfully fielded a football team this year, which not all schools who were dealing with player shortages can say.

The Rebels were originally scheduled to play Union Christian this past week, but UCA wasn’t able to play football this season because of low participation numbers.

That game would have served as a prime opportunity for Riverdale to snap the streak.

UCA and Hillcrest Christian were two MAIS teams that weren’t able to field teams this season and may never be able to bring football back to its campuses.

Those teams join the likes of Tensas High as that parish became the first in the state to not offer 11-man football.

Tensas Academy carries the football banner for the parish now, the smallest parish by population in the state.

Riverdale rallied enough students in the late stages of preseason to field a team, able to log eight practices before the regular season began on a roster than eventually grew to 14 players, though injuries did force a cancellation of one game (Claiborne Academy).

The return of lone active senior Cannon Breedlove played a huge role in Riverdale having a season at all as his presence was an anchor for a young team that includes middle schoolers.

Breedlove will play his final home football game and will celebrated with fellow senior Connor Roberts, who joined the team early in the season but suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 6.

“Cannon Breedlove coming out this year really made an impact on this season although the record doesn’t show it,” Williams said. “He’s become our leader in scoring and receiving yards while helping out with numerous tackles.”

Williams added that Roberts was playing football for the first time ever, and was an asset on defense and as a tight end before the injury.

The Rebels will be as healthy and rested as they’ve been all season with bye weeks in two of the last three weeks, which sandwiched a loss to Briarfield.

“Aside from Conner, I’m back with a full roster, and the two bye weeks have given us an opportunity to heal not only physically but mentally,” Williams said. “We’ve gotten the opportunity to better ourselves in fundamentals rather than having to fully focus on the next game scheme.”

Riverdale was not without the taste of victory at all. The junior varsity team beat Lafayette County (Ark.), which features many of Riverdale’s players on Friday nights.

The JV team also suited up against Tensas Academy in a 30-20 loss this past week, offering valuable competitive experience for younger players.

The foundation has been set under first-year coach Denver Williams, who not long ago wore the Riverdale red himself.

The community will come out and enjoy one last Friday night under the lights this season.

And the actions of the players this season should allow this wonderful tradition of football to continue.

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