By By BRIAN HAINES, Sports Writer
WILLIAMSTON — A second half scoring outburst helped Riverside not only beat Manteo but keep its perfect record intact at 5-0.
The Knights battled the Redskins to a 6-6 tie after two quarters, but then rallied to out-score Manteo 28-6 over the final two periods to win their first Four Rivers Conference match of the season 34-12.
“It’s a big win for us. We told our kids at the beginning of the game that everybody is 0-0 at the start of tonight,” Riverside coach Asim McGill said. “But now we are 1-0.”
Knights’ running back Quinton Lawrence scored on touchdown runs of 4-, 10- and 31-yards, with the last two scores coming in the second half.
Riverside quarterback Luke Mathews overcame a slow start and finished the contest 8-16 for 123 yards with two touchdown passes and one interception.
After Manteo (3-2, 0-1) running back Ja’Reeze McClease scored on a 27-yard TD run in the first, the Knights (5-0, 1-0) answered with a 67-yard scoring drive that was capped off by a Lawrence 4-yard TD run to tie the game at six.
After a scoreless second quarter, the Knights offense functioned efficiently and produced two time consuming scoring drives. The first one ended with Mathews connecting with TE Everette Paschal for an 11-yard score, while a Lawrence 10-yarder completed the second drive and gave Riverside a 21-6 lead going into the fourth.
The Knights defense stood tall for most of the game as it clashed with a fundamentally sound Manteo option attack that produced 180 rushing yards and two scores.
The Redskins made a late charge when Trey Govan scored on a 6-yard scamper to cut the Knights’ lead to 21-12 with 11:56 to go in the fourth quarter.
The Knights quickly stole the momentum back on their next drive as they marched 47-yards down field for a score on the ensuing possession. Mathews threw his second TD pass of the game, a strike down the left sideline to Trevon Rodgers, who out-jumped his defender for the ball and a 27-12 lead.
A Riverside interception by Justin Craddock followed by Lawerence’s third TD of the game closed out the scoring and handed the team its fifth straight win.
The win was costly however, as Riverside’s star receiver K.J. Brown was injured in the second half and did not return.
“K.J. is a big time player for us and I hope it’s not a big time injury,” McGill said. “We don’t know what it is but we will keep him in our prayers tonight.”
Manteo Riverside
11 First Downs 11
42-180 Rushes-Yards 34-155
25 Passing Yards 123
3-6-1 Pass-Comp-Int 8-16-1
3-28 Punting 2-30
3-2 Fumbles-Lost 3-2
6-60 Penalties 5-55
Manteo 6 0 0 6 — 12
Riverside 6 0 15 13 — 34
Scoring Summary
M — Ja’Reeze McClease 27 run (two points failed) 7:11, 1st.
R — Quinton Lawrence 4 run (Mathew Perry kick failed), :06, 1st.
R — Everette Paschal 11 pass from Luke Mathews (Paschal two points) 6:51, 3rd.
R — Lawrence 10 run (Perry Kick) 3:27, 3rd.
M — Trey Govan 6 run (two points failed) 11:56, 4th.
R — Trevon Rodgers 19 pass from Mathews (Perry kick failed) 8:35
R — Lawrence 31 (Perry kick) 1:15, 4th.