High school fullbacks in the world, rejoice. Ben Stready hasn’t forgotten you.
The second year head coach at Riverwood has the Raiders running a traditional, pro-style, I-formation offense – with a fullback. And it’s working.
Riverwood improved to 5-1, 3-0 in Region 7AAAAA-Division B, by way of a 17-6 win over Sprayberry (4-2, 2-1), ruining the Yellow Jackets’ homecoming Friday night in Marietta.
Though neither team put up gaudy offensive stats, the Raiders were much more efficient offensively. Defensively, Riverwood was stout, forcing two Sprayberry turnovers in the second half, leading to 10 points.
The Raiders were a triple-option spread team in the years prior to Stready’s arrival and, even though he prefers the more traditional route, he stuck with it through most of last season. But he decided to make a change after the Raiders suffered a five-game losing streak in which they averaged just 14 points a game, after starting the season 4-0 averaging 38 points per game against lesser competition.
“When we were triple option it was easier for teams to defend us because we didn’t throw the ball well,” said Stready. “I decided to make the change and the kids see how much better it is to be multiple.”
The offense features a sturdy offensive line, big receivers on the outside in senior Evan Crossing and junior Brandon Moore, a big tailback in senior Marvin Kinsey Jr., a quarterback over 6-feet tall in senior PJ Sanford, and head-banging fullbacks John Beckley, a junior and senior Cole Sutton.
“[Traditional] is more my style,” Stready said, “but it helps a whole lot when you have the personnel to do it.”
After a scoreless first quarter, Riverwood broke through on its first possession of the second period. The Raiders forced a Sprayberry punt and took over on their 32 yard line. Mixing passes and runs, and aided by a holding penalty, Riverwood moved to the Yellow Jackets’ 9-yard line.
The Raiders’ goal-to-go series got off to a rocky start when Marvin Kinsey Jr. was thrown for a five-yard loss on first-and-goal, followed by a two-yard run by John Beckley. But on third-and-goal from the 12, quarterback PJ Sanders lofted a pass to the back corner of the end zone, and Evan Crossing went up and caught the ball over a Yellow Jacket defender to give the Raiders a 7-0 lead after Daniel Rocha’s point-after kick.
Riverwood boosted its lead to 14-0 late in the third quarter by capitalizing on a Sprayberry turnover. The Yellow Jackets move to the Raider 20-yard line, but quarterback Andrew Pereira’s pass was intercepted by senior Jelani Reid. Riverwood proceeded to march 70 yards in 10 plays, the last of which was a quick hitch from Sanford to Moore, who did the rest by breaking two tackles and rumbled into the end zone from 16 yards out.
But the Yellow Jackets wouldn’t go away. On their ensuing drive, which bled into the fourth quarter, tough runs by junior DJ Worthy helped move the ball to the Riverwood one-yard line. But Pereira couldn’t handle a bad snap – one of several throughout the game – and Riverwood recovered at its own 20 yard line.
The Raiders put the game away on their next drive, punctuated by a 36-yard run by Sutton on a quick-hitting fullback dive. Daniel Rocha’s 24-yard field goal gave Sprayberry a 17-0 lead with a little over five minutes left in regulation.
Riverwood 0 7 7 3 17
Sprayberry 0 0 0 6 6
R – Evan Crossing 12 pass from PJ Sanford (Daniel Rocha kick)
R – Brandon Moore 16 pass from Sanford (Rocha kick)
R – Rocha 24 fg
S – Andrew Pereira 1 run (kick failed)
About the Author
