From the Dome: RA falls just short of state championship
Published 5:26 pm Friday, December 4, 2015
- Riverside’s Herb McGee, No. 1, looks for running room Friday in the state championship game against Notre Dame. The Pioneers defeated the Rebels 13-3. (Parker Waters/Submitted)
NEW ORLEANS — Riverside Academy’s hopes for its first Louisiana High School Athletic Association championship trophy were brutishly dashed Friday afternoon in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.
Jordan Loving
The Notre Dame Pioneers did what few other teams have managed to do in recent years — stop the Rebels vaunted offense to take a 13-3 victory and the Division III state championship back home to Crowley.
It is Notre Dame’s fourth state championship, its first since 2009.
The Superdome has not been kind to Riverside, and never has that been more true than Friday. Notre Dame’s highly-touted defense, which had given up a total of 42 points in 10 games this season, held the Rebels to a 41-yard field goal by Tyler Gauthier in the first quarter. Other than that the Rebels were barely able to move the ball against the Pios and their Outstanding Player of the Game Shea Zaunbrecher.
He finished with three tackles, two assists, one sack and one interception.
Rebels backup quarterback Jordan Loving was named Riverside’s Outstanding Player of the Game. He was 9 of 17 for 109 yards with two interceptions. Evan Veron finished with eight tackles, three assists, two tackles for losses and a forced fumble.
Riverside quarterback Jared Butler No. 11, looks to make a play with his legs. The starter was knocked in the first half.
Riverside was forced to go to its bench early when starting quarterback Jared Butler was knocked from the game on a run at the end of the first quarter.
Loving and Herb McGee took a few turns under center, but neither were effective. Together they finished 13 of 26 for 161 yards with two interceptions. As a team the Rebels rushed for minus-26 yards. McGee was the only one with positive yards, finishing with 3 yards on two carries.
But Riverside’s defense must be given credit for holding the Pioneers to only 13 points and 212 yards on 63 plays. Notre Dame’s first two possessions resulted with a fumble forced by Veron at the Pios’ 33 and a blocked punt by Trey Catoire, which gave the ball to the Rebels at the 12 and led to Gauthier’s field goal.
Notre Dame scored both of its touchdowns in the final minute of the first half, the first set up by a 55-yard flea-flicker from Adam Berken to Broedy Borill. On the next play, Joe Faulk threw a 3-yard pass to Ethan Smith.
Riverside fumbled the ensuing kickoff and Notre Dame recovered at the Riverside 38-yard line. The Pioneers took one play to score with Faulk throwing to Borill again, this time for 28 yards. The PAT kick was no good.
— By Lori Lyons
