MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / November 11, 1998

RESERVE – Riverside will look to keep up its consistent ways as it hosts Springfield Friday night in the bi-district playoffs.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Riverside Stadium.The Rebels completed the season at 10-0 after defeating St. Martin’s, 45-6 Friday night. The win also clinched the District 9-2A title outright forthe Rebels.

Riverside dominated right from the beginning as two interceptions set up touchdowns in the opening minutes of the game. Casey Remondet scoredtwice and Brandon Delaneuville and Keith Leblanc added touchdowns as the Rebels took a 26-0 lead into halftime. Britt Waguespack added twotouchdowns and Joey Poirrier one in the second half.

The Riverside defense held the Saints to 105 total yards and two field goals, the third straight season that the Rebels have not allowed an offensive touchdown by St. Martin’s. The Rebels also forced threeturnovers.

Remondet ran for 82 yards on 10 attempts in the contest. Remondetcontinues to add to his season totals and now has 146 carries for 1,109 yards and 16 touchdowns. Waguespack carried six times for 73 yards,increasing his season totals to 419 yards and 10 touchdowns on 64 carries. Poirrier went 7-of-9 for 138 yards and a touchdown and bow hasthrown for 1,145 yards and eight touchdowns this season.

The consistent performance against the Saints was typical of the Rebels’ season.

“We don’t get particularly high or low,” Riverside coach Mickey Roussel said. “We don’t make many mistakes and give up big plays. Week in andweek out, we have been a very consistent football team.”Springfield will look to challenge that consistency this week. TheBulldogs gained a wildcard spot after finishing third in District 8-2A with an 8-2 record. Springfield closed out its season with a 48-7 victory overPine last Friday.

The Bulldogs are led by quarterback Steven Erdey. Springfield runs out ofthe Wing-T but keeps the ball in the hands of its quarterback more than is usual for a Wing-T team. Erdey had gained 718 yards and 14 touchdowns on117 carries through nine weeks of the season.

“He is their best athlete,” Roussel said of Erdey. “He is slippery. He posesproblems for us because we have got to assign people to watch him.”Erdey is joined in the backfield by Troy Parsons, also one of the leading rushers in the area in Class 2A. Parsons had 614 yards on 85 carriesheading into the final week.

All five linemen return from a year ago. Justin Young and JamesHutchinson are the tackles, Joshua Patterson and Ryan Johnson the guards and Darren Landry is the center.

Erdey, at defensive back and Parsons, at linebacker, are also the leaders on defense along with defensive back Ronnie Williams. Rath Cauthran,Landry and Johnson anchor the defensive line.

Roussel said that emotions will be heighten with the coming of the playoffs.

“If you win, you stay, if you lose, you are finish,” Roussel said.

“Offensively and defensively, we have to hold onto the football and block and tackle. We will also emphasize special teams especially more now.They come more into play and we will emphasize more now in practice.”The winner advances to the regional playoffs to face the winner of the Patterson-Pope John Paul game.

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