MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / October 28, 1998

RESERVE – A week after clinching its second district title in three years, Riverside takes a break from district action by hosting L.B. Landry Fridaynight.

The Rebels will celebrate Parent Night at the game, honoring the parents of the players, managers and trainers. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.Riverside, ranked eighth in the state in Class 2A, comes into the game with a 8-0 record overall, 3-0 in District 9-2A play. Landry is 0-7 overalland 0-3 in District 11-3A.

Riverside is coming off one of its most dominating performances of the year, a 48-14 victory over Ridgewood. The Rebels led only 7-0 at the endof the first quarter but then blew the game open with 12 points in the second quarter and 22 in the third.

Riverside dominated on both sides of the ball. Casey Remondet ran for 147yards and three touchdowns on 14 attempts as the Rebels gained 245 yards on the ground. Joey Poirrier passed for another 97 yards and atouchdown on 8-of-13 passing and ran for two scores.

On defense, the Rebels were stifling, allowing just 77 total yards and two first downs. If not for a 45-yard pass play on the next-to-last play of thesecond quarter, the Eagles would have been held to minus-nine yards for the half. Jason Keyes, who came into the game averaging over 130 yardsper contest, was held to four yards on 10 carries. The Eagles as a teamwere held to 37 yards on 21 rushes and turned the ball over three times.

Quarterback Keith Champagne faced pressure throughout the game, being sacked three times while completing just 5 of his 16 passes for 40 yards and an interception. The Eagles’ only points came in the second half on a4-yard run by Keyes and a 62-yard fumble return by Ryan Zimmerman.

Remondet continues to rank among the metro leaders in rushing in Class 2A, gaining 852 yards and 12 touchdowns on 119 carries. He has scored 14touchdowns overall. Poirrier is also among the leaders with 51completions in 98 attempts for 800 yards and seven touchdowns.

Leading the way for the Rebels all season long has been an unheralded offensive line. Senior guards Casey Duhe and Kent Louque, junior tacklesJoe Trosclair and David Bogner and junior center Travis Klibert have opened holes for the Rebels’ running game on a consistent basis.

The Riverside defense has also been consistent, allowing 103 points through eight games. Against the likes of Parkview Baptist, West St. John,St. Charles Catholic and Ridgewood, the Rebels defense have allowed acombined 27 points.

That defense will face a Landry team that has been outscored 200-6 through seven games. The Buccaneers scored their first points of theseason on a 62-yard pass from Kevin Oubre to Marlon Turner in the third quarter of their 24-6 loss to Belle Chasse Friday night.

Landry gained 143 yards in that game but also allowed 310 yards to Belle Chasse, including 277 yards on the ground, and turned the ball over three times.

The Buccaneers have not recovered from the lost to graduation of running back Cornell Van Pelt and quarterback Joseph Beardon, the offensive leaders from a 4-5 team last year. Overall, 21 of the 30 players a year agograduated. Ryan Richards returns at running backs and runs behind a lineled by junior Williams Barkin, senior Robert Stacker and sophomore David Casby. On defense, the Buccaneers are led by defensive tackle DeShawnJones and defensive back Michael Thomas.

Last year, the Rebels held on for a 17-12 victory. Travis Bourgeois scoredtwice for the Rebels while Van Pelt returned a kick 99 yards for a score.

Riverside returns to district play next Friday when it hosts St. Martin’s toclose out the season. Landry also returns to district play at Pearl River.

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