High School Football:
Riverside Overwhelms Palmyra 42-7

Saturday, October 2, 1999

By Gary Steiner
SJSports Staff Writer

The Riverside Rams dominated the Palmyra Panthers on both sides of the ball, using their running attack on offense and a pressure defense. On an unusual note, Palmyra did not commit a single penalty, with Riverside giving away 106 yards on miscues. But the dominating play of the Rams, combined with 4 interceptions just overwhelmed the Panthers for a 42-7 victory.

Trouble began right away for Palmyra, as on their first play they fumbled a handoff, which the Rams then drove in for their first touchdown on a 15-yard run by Jesse Scheetz. Still in the first quarter, the Rams' Greg Gilbert got his first of three picks for the game to give Riverside a 1st and 10 at the Palmyra 20. Five plays later, Gilbert scored on a 1-yard run followed by another Jeff Robinson PAT to make it 14-0.

In the 2nd quarter, the Rams scored on a 67-yard drive that finished with a 2-yard run by Scheetz. On the ensuing kickoff, Matt Neamand recovered a Panther fumble at the Palmyra 26-yard line. Three plays after that, Brian Bennett would score on a 5-yard run. Robinson's 4th PAT would put the score at 28-0, which is how it ended at the half.

The 3rd quarter began with another Riverside drive, this one for 65 yards with the score coming from a 12 yard pass from John Vincenco to Larry Abele. A Gilbert interception set up a 1st and goal at the Palmyra 5-yard line, with Bill Trout scoring two plays later on a 3-yard run.

The Panthers were able to keep the Rams from scoring in the 4th quarter with the help of 3 fumbles and several stupid penalties by Riverside. The Panthers managed to break the shutout with 3:16 left in the game when Ian Dewson picked up a Rams fumble at the Riverside 4-yard line and ran it in for a touchdown. Max Roach's kick put the final score at 42-7.

Photos by Art Redd