By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

RESERVE — Riverside’s spring football game is starting to establish a tradition of down-to-the-wire finishes.

After a three-point contest a year ago, the Rebels white team defeated the Rebels’ blue team this year, 20-17, on C.J. Edler’s 35-yard field goal with no time left on the clock.

The intra-squad scrimmage featured a mix of first and second-teamers on both sides and was held under mostly normal game rules for four quarters of 10 minutes each. The only caveat was there were no kick or punt returns.

It looked as if the blue team might come away with a victory after a clutch defensive play by defensive back Kandon Guidry, who intercepted Tate Scioneaux on a fade route intended for Trevin Woods in the redzone.

But the white team defense held the blue squad to a three and out and forced a “punt” with 56 seconds remaining.

Scioneaux started the drive by connecting with Nate Williams for a 24-yard gain, bringing the white squad to its own 49. Scioneaux then connected with Woods on a 16-yard gain before using a time out to stop the clock. Williams took a handoff another 12 yards out of bounds, then the white team ran one more running play to set up a field goal attempt, clocking the ball on the field with one second left.

Edler’s kick was true, his third made field goal of the day on three attempts.

“We just told ourselves to be patient,” said Williams of the huddle before the last drive. “If we do our jobs, we’re gonna be fine. Just put our heads down, play hard, and we’re a few plays away from the win. C.J. gave us a good field goal to finish the deal.”

The white team took an early 7-0 lead in the first quarter on its second series, Scioneaux connecting with Williams for the score.

The blue squad responded with 6:31 to go in the first half on a big play from John Lewis, who took an end around 48-yards around left end for a score to make it 7-7.

The white team shot right back, Scioneaux dialing up a long bomb to an open Trevor Kenney on a go-route to make it 14-7.

“I thought Tate ran the offense well, and we expected it from him,” said Riverside coach Mickey Roussel. “He’s been in this system for three years. He handled things well.”

Roussel huddled with his team and demanded more intensity, and it seemed to inspire the white team defense — Gerald Songy intercepted blue team quarterback Trevon Woods with 2:55 to go before halftime. Williams made a big run to the 19-yard line of the blue team and it would set up a 35-yard field goal by Edler to make it 17-7 at half.

Grady Gieger got the blue team going from the backfield, making a rough and tumble 44-yard, tackle-breaking run into white territory.

“We expect big things from Grady as our starting mike linebacker, but we’re going to use him on offense too this year,” said Roussel of Gieger, who ran hard and impressively throughout the scrimmage. “He’s going to rotate in … we didn’t have to use him much offensively last season. But he’ll be a good source of inside running and also good blocking.”

Edler would cap that possession with his second field goal, this one from 36 yards away.

That would be all the scoring in the third quarter. Things got very interesting in the fourth when Trevon Woods connected with Lucas Martin on a deep score for the blue team’s biggest play of the evening, tying the game at 17 after Edler’s extra point.

The blue team came up with two big defensive plays from there: forcing a fumble on the next play after a Williams 30-yard run, then on Guidry’s interception that halted a six-play drive into blue territory.

But the third time was the charm for the white team, and the blue squad had no time to answer.

Roussel said he went into the scrimmage expecting Williams to stand out, and the senior-to-be didn’t disappoint, establishing himself as one of the day’s stars.

“I feel stronger. As a senior now, I feel like I’ve got to be a leader,” said Williams.

Said Roussel, “Nate kind of flew under the radar last year with all of the weapons we had. He’d carry it five or six times a game. He rushed for over 500 yards and averaged between seven and eight a carry. We expect him to excel with the increased workload and today he got a chance to be the guy.”

Williams said that the Rebels will go into next the season as underdogs based on losing a large number of senior starters, including Class 2A Offensive Player of the Year Darnell Rachel, but that the cupboard is hardly bare.

“Maybe people won’t look at us like the team to beat. Our star quarterback left, a lot of stars moved on. But we’re out to show that we’ve got other stars here, guys who didn’t play as much, but who are ready to step up.”

Roussel said that the day was a success. Evaluating a young group of lineman was a top priority and the coach said that he saw a number of positive things. The Rebels also leave spring with no injuries.