Thursday March 28th, 2024 9:51PM

RMA ready for long-awaited playoff push

By Jeff Hart Sports Reporter

GAINESVILLE — Maginnis Field has not seen excitement like what could be in store Friday night since perhaps 2006.

The long-time home of the Riverside Military Academy football team has seen its share of big games over its lifetime. In 2006 Riverside lost to Southland Academy in the GISA Class 3A semifinals at Maginnis Field. The Eagles won the GISA Class 3A 2005 state title at Maginnis Field in a 55-7 romp over First Presbyterian.

To make it even more interesting on Friday, it will be Homecoming for the Eagles and coach Nick Garrett said they are expecting their largest alumni turnout ever.

“The leaders of the school and people that have been here a long time are telling me we could have as many as 500 alumni come back. That’s a lot of alumni,” Garrett said. “It should be a very exciting night and a lot of fun.”

But more than Homecoming festivities and reminiscing will be on the table Friday night.

After an eight-year drought, the Eagles are poised to make their first serious playoff run since 2009. And any such aspirations begin on Friday in a huge Region 8-A North showdown with Hebron Christian at Maginnis Field. 

Riverside (4-3, 2-0 Region 8-A North) is riding a three-game win streak, its longest since 2008. The four wins are the most in a season since 2009, which is also the last time they advanced to the playoffs. Hebron Christian (4-3, 2-1 Region 8-A North) had its own three-game win streak snapped last week in a tough 21-18 loss to Commerce, which sits tied atop the subregion standings with Riverside.

Friday’s showdown is supremely large for both teams. Region 8-A will crown its champion, which also carries with it an automatic playoff berth, with the two subregion champions meeting on Nov. 2 for the title. Non region winners in Class A will then have to await the final Power Rankings at the end of the season. The top 24 teams in both Class A Public and Private, after region winners, will qualify for the playoffs.

Both Riverside and Hebron are very much alive for the top spot in the North subregion, though the Eagles do have the easier path of the two. Riverside can force a one-game showdown for the subregion title next week in Commerce against the Tigers (7-0, 2-0 Region 8-A North) with a win over the Lions. Hebron, meanwhile, would need a win over the Eagles and hope the Tigers drop their final two games against Towns County this week and the Eagles next week.

The North winner will face Class A No. 1-ranked and 2017 Private state runner-up Athens Academy, the South subregion winner, in the title game. The Spartans clinched the top spot in the South last week.

Garrett said it is anyone’s ballgame and could be a deciding moment in both team’s playoff chances. The Lions currently sit 20th while the Eagles are 23rd in the latest Class A Private power rankings.

“I think both teams are about as evenly-matched as you can get. I think there will definitely be a sense of urgency for both teams for sure,” Garrett said.

Hebron is averaging 33.4 points per game (ppg) while the RMA defense is yielding just 18.5 ppg. The RMA offense is averaging 26.1 ppg while the Lions are giving up just 16.9 ppg on the season.

Of course, it almost always comes down which team’s playmakers make plays. The Eagles offer a balanced attack and are led by senior quarterback Isaac Teasley (915 yards passing, 6 TDs; 627 yards rushing, 7 TDs) and senior wide receiver Khalid Duke (20 rec., 366 yards, 3 TDs; 18 car., 235 yards, 3 TDs). Sophomore running back Dylan Parr has had a breakout season leading the team in rushing with 650 yards, 5 TDs, and 4 100-yard games so far. Sophomore Cam’rom Dabney has also had a breakout season with 318 yards receiving on 17 catches and 213 yards rushing on 15 carries on the season, which equates to just over 16 yards a touch on offense.

Hebron is primarily a passing team averaging 207 yards a game through the air and only averages 94 yards on the ground. Sophomore quarterback Colton Gauthier is one of the rising young talents in the region with 1,295 yards passing with 14 TDs but also has thrown 8 interceptions. Winston Gassant is the leading rusher with just 177 yards on the season and the Lions have not had a 100-yard rusher so far in any single game.

The pass-first mentality of the Lions, however, could play into the strength of the Eagles defense. Riverside has forced 10 turnovers, including 7 interceptions, on the season. Dabney, a cornerback on defense, has four picks, and has returned two for touchdowns. Duke and senior linebacker Wookdong Harry Kim, who is in the top five in the state in tackles (94), have been a disruptive force all season combining for 170 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 21 quarterback hurries, and 6 sacks.

“I really think this game will come down to the defenses,” Garrett said. “Both teams can score so whichever defense is able to make the most plays, whether it be forcing punts or turnovers or getting a big sack, will be the key. Khalid and Harry have been outstanding all year and Cam’rom just knows how to find the ball. Our secondary is pretty good and I think that will be a good matchup against their passing game.”

Garrett, just in his second season on Riverside Drive, said they have managed to work around the inherent problem of the Eagles not having a summer program like most every other team in the state. And he feels they are just now finding their groove.

“We brought in some additional staff this year but the main thing is that we have 18 seniors who got together and decided to come back and help build a legacy here,” Garrett said. “The seniors have been leading on and off the field and have had a huge impact on the younger kids. I honestly feel like they’re just now understanding and coming into their own.

“We’re not approaching this game as if it’s a make-or-break for the playoffs. But like I said, there is a sense of urgency. It’s a huge game for some of the things we set out to accomplish. The good thing is that I feel like we’re playing our best football right now. We’re ready to go.”

  • Associated Categories: Sports, High School Sports, Friday Game Night
  • Associated Tags: High school football, Riverside Military Academy football
© Copyright 2024 AccessWDUN.com
All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission.