Riverside Military rushes for 400, rolls past Trinity in season finale at Cleve

The Trinity Crusaders ended their regular season Friday night by hosting Riverside Military Academy.

Things started off well enough for Trinity as they held the lead after the first quarter. Unfortunately, they had no answer for the Riverside run game, which rolled up 399 yards as the Eagles cruised to the 44-9 win. 

The Trinity defense started the game off strong with a quick three and out to set its offense up with good field position. The offense got the ball into the red zone but ultimately stalled out, leading to a Witt Byrd 29 yard field goal that gave the Crusaders a 3-0 lead.

Riverside was much more successful on its next drive. The visitors would go 50 yards on seven plays to get on the scoreboard. Luke Allsbrooke would score from a yard out to make the score 6-3.

The Crusaders had an answer on their ensuing drive as they marched 65 yards on six plays to score.  Mason Lane punched it in from one yard away for the touchdown, but the extra point was blocked.

Still, Trinity led 9-6 heading to the second quarter.

The Riverside offense was just getting started. It went 71 yards on nine plays to reach the end zone again their next possession. Tristan Hughley scored from the 1 and the two-point conversion made the score 14-9.

Trinity’s next possession ended in disaster with an interception on the third play to set the Eagles up at the Crusader 35. The defense looked like it might get the ball back, but on fourth and nine, Hughley broke loose for a 34-yard touchdown to make it 22-9.  

The Crusaders would put together a solid drive to close out the half, but it ended on a failed fourth down attempt.

Trinity could do nothing offensively out of the locker room, and had to punt after three plays. Riverside needed just five plays to go 75 yards and extend the lead further. J.J. Blackwell ran it in from 11 yards away to make the score 28-9.

Another Crusader punt on the next drive, followed by a penalty, pinned the Eagles deep in their own territory. Blackwell wasted no time as he raced 90 yards on the first play from scrimmage to extend the Riverside lead further at 36-9.

Blackwell would cap the scoring with the final TD on a punt return to make the final 44-9.

Jude Evans led the Crusaders with 55 yards on eight carries and also completed a pair of passes for 57 yards. Mason Lane added 50 yards on 13 attempts. Sam Owens had a catch for 56 yards. 

Defensively, Andrew Helton led the team in tackles with 11, while Lane and Gavin Hightower added nine each. They all also had a pair of tackles for loss.

Blackwell led Riverside with 247 rushing yards to take his season total to nearly 1,700. Hughley added 75.

The contest marked the final home game in the career of five Crusader seniors: Tayt Evans, Griffin Lane, Corbin Albritton, Aiden George and Sam Fuller.