Despite a valiant fourth-quarter comeback, Riverside couldn’t hold off a late Christ Church game-winning drive as the Cavaliers upset the Warriors 37-35 on Friday night.
Christ Church kicked a game-winning field goal as time expired to seal the victory.
Riverside dropped to 1-2 on the season with the loss.
“We have things to build on,” said Riverside offensive coordinator Thomas Wilkes. “We just have to stay together as a team and keep pulling in the same direction.”
Christ Church took the opening drive right down the field for a score, marching all the way down the field and capping the drive with a Michael Martin II touchdown run, his first of three on the night. An interception two plays into Riverside’s first drive helped the Cavaliers get right back in the red zone and just as quickly back in the end zone.
Christ Church held a 13-0 lead just six minutes into the game.
Keyon Knowles collected the first of his three rushing touchdowns on the evening for Riverside to bring the score to 13-7 in the second quarter, but Riverside’s defense couldn’t stop Christ Church quarterback Judd Wyndham from moving the ball right down the field.
Christ Church held a 34-20 lead in the fourth quarter, but Riverside’s defense finally stepped up, forcing a fumble and a turnover on downs in the final frame.
The Warriors rallied from down 34-20 in the final frame, taking a 35-34 lead with 40 seconds to go. Keyon Knowles rushed in from three yards out to make the score 34-33, and Jaiden "Speedy" Taylor gave Riverside the lead with a two-point conversion on a pop pass from QB Gideon Merhib.
Windham led a heroic final drive in the waning seconds, however, making several big completions before finally, Ryan Von Wyl kicked the game-winning 35-yard field goal as time expired.
“We have to use this bye week as a chance to evaluate who we are and who we want to be as a team moving forward,” said Wilkes.
Riverside falls to 1-2 on the season ahead of a clash at Dorman on Sept. 19.
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