The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Beavers believe, on way to Week 11
Basking in the afterglow of its Western Reserve Conference titleclinching, 14-6 victory over visiting Mayfield, amid the hugs and pats on the back from fans and fellow students, Riverside could reflect on the way its 2018 season has been a testament to self-confidence and ignoring the naysayers.
Dismissed by many pundits as also-rans from the beginning of the season, the Beavers’ confidence grew with each successive victory, and their success exceeded all expectations-except their own.
“This class has known since we were freshmen that we had the chance to do something special,” Riverside senior quarterback Andrew Keller said. “Our goal was to be conference champs and go to the playoffs, and we were able to obtain those goals, which is great. Now we have to get ready for Week 11.”
Riverside’s 8-2 record is the best it’s had since the 2006 season, when it also went 8-2.
The conference title, which the Beavers share with Chardon and Kenston, each with 6-1 league marks, was the first for Riverside since a 2013 cotitle with Madison in the old Premier Athletic Conference. That season also marked the last time the Beavers qualified for the playoffs. Riverside began the night ranked No. 6 in Division II, Region 5, and awaits official word regarding its Week 11 opponent.
“It feels great. We’ve been dreaming about this since we were freshmen,” Riverside senior Danny Smith said. “I can’t even describe it. I love these guys. We’re like brothers, best friends. It’s amazing.”
“It’s a tremendous feeling,” Riverside coach Dave
Bors said. “I’m just so happy for these kids and this community. They’ve worked extremely hard, and they’ve been through so much. I’ll tell you what – to come back from getting their butts kicked by Kenston just a few weeks ago, to come back and win against a team (tonight) that’s vying for the playoffs, doing everything it can to win the game, it’s just tremendous.”
Played in a steady rain throughout, the game’s first half was filled with mistakes and missed opportunities by both teams. Riverside advanced to the Mayfield 29 on the game’s opening drive, but fumbled, with Mayfield’s Nick Cunningham recovering.
Mayfield, keyed by a 26yard pass from sophomore quarterback Michael Huss to sophomore wide receiver Joey Dostal, drove to a first down at the Riverside 11 on the ensuing possession. A holding
penalty and a six-yard loss pushed Mayfield back to the Riverside 22, where it set up for a field goal on fourth down. The Wildcats’ holder picked up the ball in a designed fake and completed a pass to a wide-open Joey Isabella, and though complete, the pass was a little short and Isabella was tackled short of the first down, giving the ball back to the Beavers.
Riverside went on to fumble again in Mayfield territory, and turn the ball over on downs twice, while the Wildcats gave it up via fumble and downs once again themselves before halftime.
After the scoreless first half, Riverside fell behind, 6-0, with 8:50 left in the third quarter when Mayfield took the opening drive of the second half 75 yards and scored on a oneyard plunge by Huss. Smith blocked the extra point.
Undeterred, the Beavers put together a lengthy, 65yard
drive, in which they went backwards on six occasions due to penalties. As they’ve managed to do most of the season, Riverside fought through these mistakes and finally reached paydirt on an 12yard scramble for a score by Keller to take a 7-6 lead.
A short punt and penalty on the Wildcats gave Riverside the ball at the Mayfield 33 in the late stages of the third quarter, and it took the Beavers just four plays to score on a 23-yard run down the sideline by Smith for a 14-6 lead with 10:55 to go in the fourth. Mayfield (5-5, 4-3 WRC) mounted one last threat, moving from its 20 to the Riverside 15 on the strength of a 45-yard pass from Huss to Stacy Collins and a 15-yard penalty on the Beavers. But on fourth down, senior safety Bobby Sotock batted down a Huss pass in the end zone with 1:43 left to play.