Jacksonville Fl- Riverside High School’s football field got a face-lift of sorts, as the new football field was opened tonight. The “Backyard” as the field is affectionately called, was notoriously known for flooding and rough turf which made for sloppy conditions and rough play. The new field however, is shiny, bright, and 91,000 square-feet of turf with the school’s blue star and white ‘R’ painted at mid-field.
Though the field was shiny and clean, the game was ugly and rough to start with and dominated by defense. Trinity led 7-0 over Riverside with 11:37 remaining in the first quarter, when quarterback Colin Hurley connected with London Smith for a 42- yard touchdown. But that would be the only scoring for a while.
Riverside’s defense would step up big, forcing Trinity into two turnovers on downs, and a three-and-out on three possessions. Trinity’s defense would stand tall as well when Kyle Boylston intercepted Riverside at the Generals’ 19-yard line and returned it 34-yards into Riverside territory. The score would remain 7-0 going into halftime.
In the second half,, both teams would be awaken by the traditional canon blast that’s a regular at Riverside games. First Riverside’s Devin Herring would jolt the home crowd with an 8-yard touchdown run. The extra point was blocked as Riverside closed the lead to 7-6 in the 3rd .
On the ensuing kickoff, Trinity’s Darnell Rogers returned the kickoff 87-yards for a touchdown, sucking the air right out of the new “Backyard. Rogers electrifying score put the Trinity up 14-6 heading into the fourth.
Riverside would respond, when Runningback Rajon White broke a tackle and willed his way to the end zone for a fourth quarter score. The 2-point conversion was good, and the game was tied at 14-14.
However on the ensuing kickoff, Darnell Rogers would hit a 71-yard kickoff return, to set up Trinity at the Riverside 15-yard line with 10:44 to go in the 4th quarter. The play would set up a Seth Bialek’s 44-yard field-goal giving the Conquerors he lead 17-14.
Trinity would run away with it from there, as the defense would stop Riverside on 4th and goal. Treyaun Webb would be the closer for tonight, rushing around the right tackle for a nine-yard touchdown run. The Conquerors missed the extra point but led 23-14, 5:46 4Q. Finally Webb would turn out the lights at the “Backyard” when he took off for a 56-yard touchdown run to ice the game.
Final Score: Trinity 30 Riverside 14
Next Up: Trinity (6-0) Home vs University Christian (7-0)
Riverside (2-5) at Jackson (5-1)
Images by Will Brown
Check back tomorrow for a complete photo gallery of the game
