By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

RESERVE — Wild games. Shootout. Back and forth.

If we’re playing a word association game of sorts, these would likely bring to mind Riverside’s last two victories, a 48-47 win over McCoy and a 38-30 win over Carver.

It also brings to mind the Rebels’ series with Newman. When Riverside (6-2, 3-1) faces the Greenies (3-5, 3-2), it always tends to excite the masses, and fans of offense rarely go home unhappy.

When RA coach Mickey Roussel was asked about the prospects of playing another game that flows like it has the last two weeks, he wasn’t enthusiastic.

“I hope not,” he said with a chuckle. “I know last year, they had Odell Beckham, and he played a lot of quarterback. One of the things we struggled with was defending the mobile quarterback. Number 12 (Quarterback Eli Sterbcow) manages the game real well, and he throws it well. He won’t run it 20 times and throw 40 … he might throw 40, but the running is one less element, more than likely, to concern ourselves with.

“But even so, he completed 31 passes against Curtis. Completing 31 passes in a game against the air is pretty good.”

Newman began the season 0-3, then won three straight before losing two consecutive games.

The most recent loss, against Cohen, came as something of a surprise. But Sterbcow did not play due to injury.

“He didn’t play, and one of their very best guys, an offensive-slash-defensive lineman, he didn’t play,” said Roussel. “I know when you look at their record, and when you look at what they were at the beginning of the season … you just say wow, because they look a lot better now. They’re fighting for their playoff lives.”

Newman scored 17 points in total in losses to University and McMain to start the season. Since then, the Greenies have scored 29 or more in five of six games, the lone outlier their 41-0 loss to Curtis.

Nate Williams’ 5-yard run with 1:36 left provided the winning points as Riverside held on for a 38-30 win over visiting Carver in a District 9-2A game.

Riverside led 38-24, but Carver scored on a Joey Louis run with nine seconds left and then recovered an onside kick, down eight. The Rebel defense held as Carver came up short with one last play.

Williams rushed 11 times for 65 yards and a touchdown and catching five passes for another 64 yards and a score. Williams also intercepted a pass, returning it for 53 yards. Jonquial Sanders rushed 16 times for 131 yards and a touchdown. Tate Scioneaux completed 7 of 13 passes for 115 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. His touchdowns went to Williams, Brandon Millet and Javon Patterson.