By JOHNNY PEPPO

Sports Editor

PLAQUEMINES – Riverside had things clicking on offense and defense last Friday night in Plaquemines Parish where they went to take on the White Castle Bulldogs for the prep season opening weekend as the Rebels put up 343 yards rushing while holding the opponent to 48 yards of total offense.

Junior Jarid Caesar was the go-to guy for Riverside in the second half of play where he ran for three touchdowns, the last of which was a 52-yarder in the fourth quarter for the final score of the night.

Wade Laiche ran for the Rebels other touchdown on a 13-yarder by the quarterback to score the opening TD of the game in the second quarter. That brought it into halftime with a 6-0 score in favor of Riverside, meaning that there was still a lot of work to be done.

Much of that load was carried by Caesar in the next half of play. After punching one in from six yards out in the third, the Rebels took a nice, but surmountable 13-0 lead into the last quarter.

There, Caesar did the most damage with a pair of touchdowns while the defense, which forced three interceptions and six fumbles (only two of which changed possession), continued to smother the Bulldogs. The Riverside defense also had to contend with their offense’s three lost fumbles throughout the game.

Laiche went 7-of-13 for 99 yards as the Rebel quarterback and tossed two interceptions.

Next up for the Rebels is a road game in New Orleans against Newman, who took a 35-0 win in their opener over Archbishop Hannan. The Riverside defense will have to contend with quarterback Wes Luquette and receivers Jeffery Hampton and Andy Lass, who accounted for 26 of Newman’s 35 points last week.