MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / October 28, 2000

RESERVE – Damian Melancon threw for a touchdown and ran for another as Riverside clinched its second District 9-2A championship in three years with a 35-16 victory over Newman Friday night.

Riverside moved to 9-0 overall and 5-0 in District 9-2A with the victory.

Newman, the defending district champions, dropped to 3-2 in district and 6-3 overall.

Riverside finished the game with 371 total yards, 211 coming on 45 carries. Melancon had 80 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries. Melanconalso completed 8-of-14 passes for 148 yards and a touchdown. GaryEntremont caught six passes for 97 yards and a touchdown. BrandonDelaneuville rushed 16 times for 64 yards and a touchdown. Jared St.Amant had 44 yards and a score on 10 carries.

Newman had 202 total yards, all but three yards coming in the second half.

The Greenies had one first down by a penalty until the final play of the third quarter. Damion Carter finally heated up in the fourth quarter andfinished with 146 yards and two touchdowns on 13-of-27 passing.

Chandler Malone caught five passes for 51 yards. Bruce Fowler had fourcatches for 52 yards and a score. The Greenies also ran for 56 yards on 25carries, led by Miles Clements with 43 yards on nine carries.

Riverside spotted Newman a 3-0 lead before scoring 21 unanswered points in the first half. The Rebels took over their second possession at theirown 20. Waguespack carried twice for 20 yards to the 40. Two plays later,Melancon kept on an option to the left, cut across the field and zig-zagged his way to the Newman 10-yard line for a 50-yard gain. Delaneuvilleswept left and then cut in for the score two plays later from the 10.

Torres added the extra point, giving the Rebels a 7-3 lead with 6:41 left in the first quarter.

John Champagne recovered a fumble by Miles Clements at the Newman 46 late in the first quarter. But the Rebels gave it back four plays later asSeth Johnson fumbled at the Newman 12 and Hyatt Thompson recovered for the Greenies.

Riverside held as Champagne sacked Carter twice and Bradley Hodges returned the ensuing kickoff 26 yards to the Newman 30. Melancon andDelaneuville took turns running the ball with the Rebels converting two third downs on the drive. Delaneuville took it off right guard from twoyards out. Torres again added the extra point, increasing the lead to 14-3with 5:31 remaining in the first half.

Riverside held Newman deep late in the half and took over at its 38 with 26 seconds left in the half. On the first play, Melancon connected withEntremont on the right hashmark for a 37-yard gain to the Newman 26.

Two plays later, Melancon lofted a pass to Jeff Roccaforte in the right side of the end zone as the Newman defender slipped down. Torres addedthe extra point, making it 21-3 with six seconds remaining in the half.

Pierre Beard of Newman had recovered a fumble by Melancon at the Riverside 24-yard on the opening possession of the game. The Greeniesgained four yards before the Rebels held. Todd Rhoden came in to hit the37-yard field goal, making it 3-0 with 8:45 left in the first quarter. TheGreenies were held to three yards in the half and one first down by penalty.

Riverside continued to pour it on in the third quarter. The Rebels took overtheir first possession of the half at their 40 and drove 60 yards in six plays for the score. On third-and-13 from the 37, Melancon connected withEntremont on the left sidelines for a 14-yard gain to the 41. Delaneuvilleswept right for nine yards, then swept around the left side on the next play for 40 yards and the score. Torres hit the extra point, making it 28-3with 8:20 left in the third.

Riverside took over at its 43 on its next possession and again drove for a score, using nine plays. A shovel pass from Melancon to Delaneuvillepicked up 14 yards to the Newman 40. Melancon came back with a 10-yardpass to Entremont after a holding call. A pass interference call againstthe Greenies gave the Rebels a first down at the 25. Four plays later fromthe 17, Melancon faked a handoff up the middle and kept around the right side for the score. Torres’ extra point made it 35-3 with 1:58 remaining inthe quarter.

Newman finally got a drive going after starting at its 10. A 20-yard passfrom Carter to Malone on the right sidelines gave the Greenies their initial first down at the 31 on the final play of the third quarter.

Clements carried up the middle for 12 yards to the Riverside 29 four plays later. The drive concluded with an 11-yard pass from Carter to HunterPowell in the left side of the end zone on fourth down. Rhoden added theextra point to cut the deficit to 35-10 with 8:31 left in the game.

Jimmy Kepper intercepted Michael Schoen at the Newman 26 on the ensuing drive. The Greenies then drove 84 yards in 10 plays for theirsecond score. Carter had a 20-yard pass to Fowler and a 19-yard scrambleto give the Greenies a first down at the Riverside 45. Carter then passedover the middle to Powell for a 19-yard gain. Powell fumbled but PhilCossich was there to pick it up for Newman and advance it to the Riverside 12.

After a sack by Ray Cella pushed Newman back to the 21, Carter threw a jump ball to the right side of the end zone that Fowler cam down with for the score. Rhoden again made the extra point to make it 35-17 with 1:08remaining.

Return To Sports Stories

Copyright © #Thisyear# Wick Communications, Inc.Best viewed with 4.0 or higher