GAINESVILLE — Just 14 plays for 13 yards and 10 penalty yards.
That was the telling stat line for the Riverside Military Academy offense in the second half in a disappointing 17-7 loss to Hebron Christian Friday night in a crucial Region 8-A North subregion matchup for the Eagles.
It stands out even more when considering that the Eagles torched the Lions for a 60-yard bomb from Isaac Teasley to a streaking Jashod Dabney down the right sideline on the opening play of the game for a 7-0 lead just 10 seconds into the game.
Riverside (4-4, 2-1 Region 8-A North) came into the contest with a chance to force a one-game showdown next week with Commerce for the top spot in the subregion and a chance at the overall region title.
Now, they are left hoping that their body of work in their first seven games is enough to propel them into their first playoffs since 2009. Class A uses power rankings to determine a 24-team field, after awarding the winners of each of the eight regions automatic berths. The Eagles sat 23rd heading into Friday The Lions were 20th.
“We got the quick strike but we just couldn’t get any real momentum after that,” Riverside coach Nick Garrett said. “Hebron played well on defense and you have to give them credit.
“I feel like we’re a team that should be in the playoffs. We’ll just have to see how it works out. But I like where we’re headed as a program.”
After Riverside’s quick explosion, the Lions answered.
Hebron used balance on its opening drive answering with an 18-play, 88-yard, 7 minute drive, capped by a 1-yard quarterback sneak from Colton Gauthier, who also was 4 of 6 for 36 yards passing on the drive. Ethan Burroughs provided the inside punch with 36 yards on 7 carries. The Lions also converted three third downs and got a huge fourth down offsides penalty on the Eagles to keep the drive alive.
“They hit us for the big play quickly and we talked about having an answer,” Hebron coach Jeff Saturday said. “The offense did a great job of taking what they were given and that got the momentum back for us.”
After trading punts into the second quarter, Riverside started at its own 1 and after two near-safeties, the Eagles got a big penalty on the Lions and Teasley found Harrison Nash across the middle for a 28-yard gain. But five plays later Dabney was stripped at the end of 15-yard screen pass and Hebron recovered at its own 49.
Hebron got a 33-yard pass from Gauthier to Burroughs to the Eagles 14 but the drive stalled and Aiden Meek booted a 29-yard field goal for a 10-7 lead with 3:52 left in the half.
Riverside moved to the Lions 29 with 6 seconds left Michael Madichie’s 47-yard field goal fell just short and left.
Hebron managed just 50 yards after its opening drive while the Eagles managed just 81 yards on 22 plays after its opening play.
Hebron scored the only points of the second half on its second possession as Burroughs capped an 11-play drive scoring on a 8-yard run with 2:51 left in the third quarter to push the lead to 17-7.
The Lions defense clamped down on Riverside forcing four 3-and-outs on their four second half possessions and then thwarting a pair of Hail Mary passes in the final 8 seconds.
SCORING SUMMARY
HEBRON.............7....3....7....0 -- 17
RIVERSIDE.........7....0....0....0 -- 7
First Quarter
R -- Dabney 60 pass from Teasley (Madichie kick) 7-0, 11:50
H -- Gauthier 1 run (Meek kick) 7-7, 4:50
Second Quarter
H -- Meek 29 FG 10-7, 3:52
Third Quarter
H -- Burroughs 8 run (Meek kick) 17-7, 2:51
