Rummel survives scare from Riverside, 38-34

Video: Riverside-Rummel full game replay

METAIRIE – For years, Archbishop Rummel has been known for its bruising ground game and fast, physical defense. In the process of playing that way consistently, the Raiders have always been know for playing fast games, under two and a half hours if not close to two hours.

Those days may be long gone with the new Rummel attack in 2017, particularly when the Raiders face a team such as Riverside.

In a game that took three hours and 10 minutes to complete, Rummel took the lead early and led throughout and held off Riverside 38-34 in a game seen live at CrescentCitySports.com and heard live at WGSO 990 AM.

Junior Chandler Fields tossed four touchdowns passes, including three to sophomore Koy Moore and senior running backs Keirell Jackson and Dwan Trufant each rushed for well over 100 yards as the Raiders amassed 586 yards of offense.

“Give our offensive line credit,” Moore said. “They really blocked well for Chandler to throw the ball and for us to control the game with our running game. It all started there. I wanted the ball in key situations and I was fortunate to be able to make some plays. We know we have many guys who can make plays.”

They needed virtually every yard as Riverside senior quarterback Jordan Loving put on a show, passing for 549 yards and four touchdowns. Loving completed 31-of-46 passes for 549 with four touchdowns and and had one pass interception. Loving suffered six drops by receivers as well. The 549 yards passing were a record against a Rummel defense in the 54 history of the Raider program. Kash Foley had nine catches for 145 yards and a touchdown.

Fields completed 15-of-29 passes for 211 yards and the four touchdowns. Moore was a a force, catching five passes for 63 yards and a score, rushing three times for 26 yards and recovering a fumble on defense.

Rummel led from start to finish but needed a fourth-and-two conversion with two minutes remaining from its own 40-yard line to secure the win. Raiders head coach Jay Roth decided to go for it and Fields hit Evan Francioni on an eight-yard completion to seal the victory. Francioni had five catches for 78 yards.

“Our defense was worn out, done,” Roth said. “We had to make a play. We did not want to give the ball back to them with their offense. We could not stop them. Chandler made a nice throw and Evan made the catch we needed in that situation. We felt it was necessary. Give our guys credit for making the play. Give them credit for making us have to do it in the first place. They were that good on offense and we had no answer for them.”

Riverside double team senior Ja’Marr Chase from start to finish, rolling a safety to his side of the field. Chase did mange three catches for 53 yards and a touchdown and rushed twice for 10 yards. Jackson finished with 15 carries for 169 yards while Trufant rushed 15 times for 119 yards and a touchdown.

Rummel took the lead on its first possession, driving 53 yards in eight plays with Fields connecting with Moore on a 20-yard touchdown pass to make it 7-0 with 9:25 to play in the first quarter.

After getting a stop, the Raiders passed the lead, driving 58 yards in seven plays with Fields hitting Moore on an 18-yard touchdown pass to make it 14-0 with 6:01 to play in the opening quarter.

The Rebels answered with an eight play, 73-yard drive with Arkansas commit scoring on a 19-yard run to make it 14-7 with 3:48 to play in the quarter.

Rummel came up with its first big defensive play when Loving fumbled a bad shotgun snap from center and Moore recovered at the Rummel 19-yard line.

The Raiders expanded the lead on a six-yard touchdown run by Trufant to cap a seven play, 58-yard drive and it was 21-7 Rummel with 2:05 to play in the half.

Rummel had a chance to grow the lead before halftime but Chris Freibert missed a 43-yard field goal and it was 21-7 at halftime.

Riverside controlled play in the second half but could never get over the hump.

The Rebels took the second half kickoff and drove 80 yards in eight plays with Loving hitting Foley on a 35-yard touchdown pass and it was 21-14 with 9:18 to play in the third quarter.

Rummel answered with an eight play, 56-yard drive with Fields hitting Moore on a six-yard touchdown pass and it was 28-14 with 6:00 to play in the quarter.

Caleb Powell then came up with another big defensive play, intercepting a Loving pass. That set up a 12-yard touchdown pass from Loving to Chase and Rummel seemed in control with a 35-14 lead with 4:57 to play in the quarter.

The Rebels came back immediately, needing just four plays to go 71 yards with Loving hitting Jeremiah Bigham on a 22-yard touchdown pass to make it 35-21 going to the fourth quarter.

Riverside got a stop and drove 66 yards in just four plays with Loving connecting with Garland Robertson on a 51-yard touchdown pass to cut the deficit to 35-28 with 8:04 to play in the game.

The Raiders got some insurance, driving 81 yards in six plays before the drive stalled at the Riverside eight-yard line. Freibert cam on and booted a 25-yard field goal to give Rummel a 38-28 lead with 6:03 to play.

The Rebels battled back again, going 77 yards in just four plays with Loving hitting Jalen Banks on a deep slant and he raced 65 yards for a touchdown to make it 38-34 with five minutes to play in the game. The extra point attempt failed.

Desperately needing to keep the ball away from Riverside, Rummel and Fields came up with the drive it needed, running out the clock on an 11-play drive which included the big fourth down conversion.

“We knew we didn’t match up well defensively with them,” Riverside head coach Chris Lachney said. “We’re banged up on the defensive front and we got hit hard on the defensive end by graduation. When you go in against Rummel, you have to decide what you want to stop. We decided to take Ja’Marr Chase out of the game. He didn’t do to us what he’s done to everyone else. We decided to make then run it to beat us. It was a conscious decision. We made an adjustment after struggling early and then played as good as we could to have a chance to win. I think we’ll be better because of it.”

Rummel (2-0) has a short week before heading to Lafayette to face Teurlings Catholic Friday night at 7 p.m. while Riverside (1-2) has an off week before battling Division II power De La Salle a week from Friday.

“Missing last week’s game which was canceled at Escambia (FL) certainly did not help,” Roth said. “We are a work in progress with our new offense. We did have the one turnover but we have to limit other mistakes, such as penalties. We expect to get better. It was good to see our running game get going and our offensive line improve. We have to improve and I believe we will. Riverside is a state champion and we have enormous respect for them. I hope we don’t face anyone else that good throwing the ball.”

Final
Rummel 21 0 14 3 38
Riverside 7 0 14 13 34

First Downs
Rummel 29
Riverside 25

Penalties
Rummel 7 for 66 yards
Riverside 6 for 50 yards

Sacks
Rummel 1
Riverside 0

Turnovers
Rummel 1
Riverside 2

Rushing Yards
Rummel 380
Riverside 71

Passing Yards
Rummel 211
Riverside 549

Total Yards
Rummel 591
Riverside 620

Rushing
Rummel–Dwan Trufant 15 carries, 119 yards and 1 TD, Keirell Jackson 15 carries, 169 yards, Chandler Fields 9 carries, 62 yards, Koy Moore 3 carries, 26 yards, Jaelen Sturgis 2 carries, 4 yards, Ja’Marr Chase 7 carries, 10 yards

Riverside–Jeremy Gibson 12 carries, 49 yards, Louis Cheneau 4 carries, 27 yards, Jordan Loving 2 carries, 2 yards, Kash Foley 1 carry, -7 yards

Passing–Chandler Fields 15-of-29 for 211 yards, 4 TD’s, Jordan Loving 31-of-46 for 549 yards, 4 TD’s, 1 INT

Receiving

Rummel–Evan Francioni 5 catches for 78 yards, Koy Moore 5 catches for 63 yards, 3 TD’s, Ja’Marr Chase, 3 catches, 53 yards 1 TD, Jermie Walker 2 catches, 27 yards

Riverside–Kash Foley 9 catches for 181 yards, 1 TD, Jeremiah Bigham 7 catches for 158 yards, 1 TD, Garland Robertson 3 catches for 64 yards, 1 TD, Jalen Banks 2 catches for 102 yards and 1 TD, Jeremy Gibson 5 catches for 42 yards, Jeffrey Goodwin 2 catches for 11 yards, Louis Cheneau 2 catches for 5 yards, Jaylen Watkins 1 catch for 19 yards