By Gary Fauber
Jake Harman took a big step in making up for lost time.
Harman’s 91-yard interception return derailed Woodrow Wilson’s comeback attempt, and running back Anthony Owens had a breakout game in the Warriors’ 40-13 win Friday night at Van Meter Stadium.
Class AAA No. 10 Riverside was playing one week after falling to one-win Ripley. The Warriors led 19-0 in the first quarter before falling apart.
This time, the Warriors (6-2) made sure there was no letdown.
Down 26-13 and starting from its own 9-yard line, Woodrow (3-4) began its march. Under the direction of quarterback Kevin Starkey — and two key pass interference calls — the Flying Eagles ran 13 plays in a time-consuming drive.
Starkey, who shared playing time with junior Ryan Stafford, completed a 15-yard pass to Tyler Bowyer on fourth-and-9 from the Woodrow 31. He then found Vashawn Wood for 17 yards on the next play to get the Eagles into Riverside territory at the 37.
A pass interference call on third-and-19 gave Woodrow first down at the Warriors’ 31. Two plays later, Starkey carried 18 yards for a first down before fumbling the ball. But teammate Meko Carter recovered for three extra yards at the 8.
The drive — and, essentially, the game — ended on the next play when Starkey overthrew his receiver and Harman got the easy interception at the 9. He ran it all the way back for a touchdown and 33-13 Riverside lead with 3:45 to play.
Harman had not played football since suffering an injury his freshman year.
“That was a big play,” first-year Riverside head coach Ralph Hensley said. “He decided to come out this year and still has some improving to do.”
Woodrow coach John H. Lilly was discouraged by his offense’s inability to take advantage of opportunities.
“We moved the ball well all night,” he said. “That’s the most frustrating part. No one stops us. We stop ourselves.”
Riverside quarterback Chucky Erby had a game to remember on his 18th birthday. He scored Riverside’s first touchdown on a 62-yard run, and found Dustin Allen for a 58-yard touchdown pass late in the second quarter to put the Warriors ahead 20-7.
Erby finished 7-of-17 for 141 yards passing, all in the first half, and had 61 yards on seven carries.
“Chucky Erby had a nice game,” Hensley said. “Especially in the first half. He had a nice run for the touchdown. He just played a good game.”
The Warriors also got a nice performance out of Owens, a senior who played most of the second half after starter Rashif Hill injured an ankle. Owens ran for 52 yards and a pair of touchdowns, including a 17-yarder with 1.4 seconds remaining.
“That’s what we need. We’ve got to have people step up,” said Hensley, who added Hill should be OK to play next Friday when the Warriors host Princeton.
Marquel Ali led the Eagles with 75 yards on 19 carries, including a 6-yard touchdown to put Woodrow ahead 7-0 early. He also scored on an 84-yard kickoff return with 2:00 remaining in the second quarter.
Woodrow, which travels to rival Greenbrier East next Friday, made big plays on defense, including keeping the Warriors out of the end zone on a drive that began at the Woodrow 5. But that was overshadowed by Harman’s interception return.
“That,” Lilly said, “has been the theme of our season.”
— E-mail:
gfauber@register-herald.com
Riverside 40, Woodrow Wilson 13
R (6-2) 13 7 0 20 — 40
WW (3-4) 7 6 0 0 — 13
First Quarter
WW: Marquel Ali 6 run (Adam Cook kick), 9:21.
R: Chucky Erby 62 run (Jimmy Ivey kick), 7:52.
R: Rashif Hill 5 run (kick failed), 2:10.
Second Quarter
R: Dustin Allen 58 pass from Erby (Ivey kick), 2:12.
WW: Ali 84 kickoff return (pass failed), 2:00.
Fourth Quarter
R: Anthony Owens 2 run (kick failed), 7:47.
R: Jake Harman 91 interception return (Ivey kick), 3:45.
R: Owens 17 run (Ivey kick), :01.4.
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING — R: Erby 7-61, Owens 10-52, Walls 7-49, Hill 11-41. WW: Ali 19-75, Starkey 5-32, Josh Williams 3-10, Blaine Mayo 8-7, Meko Carter 1-3, Ryan Stafford 2-2.
PASSING — R: Erby 7-17-0-141. WW: Starkey 5-19-1-58, Stafford 3-3-0-26.
RECEIVING — R: Allen 4-108, Thomas Gray 2-22, Owens 1-11. WW: Vashawn Wood 4-47, Tyler Bowyer 2-23, Williams 1-13, Ali 1-1.
TURNOVERS — R: Harman (INT). WW: none.
