Susquehanna at Riverside

Recap

RIVERSIDE 34, SUSQUEHANNA 26

In a wild seesaw contest in Taylor that saw outstanding quarterback play on both sides, numerous onside kickoff attempts from each team, and countless big plays, Riverside outlasted Susquehanna 34-26 after building a 27-0 lead at halftime. .

Riverside, using a 23-yard scramble by star senior quarterback Chase Taddonio, moved into the red zone late in the first quarter. The drive concluded with Taddonio finding talented H-back Richie Kostoff for a 20-yard score to put the Vikings ahead 7-0.

Riverside immediately attempted an onside kick which was unsuccessful. After the Sabers were unable to move the ball, the first period ended with no further scoring. The Vikings once again used the elusiveness of Taddonio to put themselves in business deep in Susquehanna territory. Taddonio, after a 31-yard run, once again hit Kostoff on a short pass that the bruising back parlayed into a 14-yard touchdown, putting Riverside in front 14-0.

A special teams miscue by Susquehanna led to the next Riverside score. A poor snap from center on a punt set Riverside up once again. Coach Harry Armstrong reached into his bag of tricks, dialing up a double-pass. Taddonio threw to wideout Braydon Rose who launched a 32-yard missile to Max Jackson who gave Riverside what seemed like a comfortable 21-0 lead with just over 2 minutes left before halftime. Still, Riverside was not done. With 1:44 left in the half, Taddonio spotted Gerry Rose in the middle of the Saber secondary and Rose scooted to the end zone to close the scoring at 27-0.

The Vikings were hampered early in the second half of play by two lost fumbles, leading to the first Susquehanna touchdown. Nearly midway through the third stanza, Saber quarterback Weston Yannone sprinted down the right sideline for 55 yards and the first touchdown for his team, making the score 27-6. That was merely the beginning of Yannone’s second-half heroics.

A successful onside kick by Susquehanna allowed the Sabers to drive to another score. On 4^th and goal from the Riverside 16, Yannone lofted a prayer to Parker Overbaugh that was answered in the end zone, slicing the Riverside lead to 27-12.

The Vikings extended their lead with 7:53 remaining in the game when Taddonio, continuing in a long line of outstanding Riverside signal callers, bulled over on a quarterback sweep from 2 yards out, making the score 34-12.

From then on, the Vikings were forced to attempt to stave off a relentless Susquehanna onslaught. Yannone continued his big play magic on 2^nd and 29 from his own 46-yard line. This time the Saber quarterback raced 54 yards to paydirt. His two-point pass was complete to Mason Keys, making the score 34-20 with 5:25 left.

Yannone had a few more miracles in his pocket. First, he found Mason Keyes on a 47-yard jump ball that moved the Sabers deep into Viking territory. With just 26 seconds left, he again scrambled through the Riverside defense from 19 yards out to cut the lead to 8 at 34-26. The two-point try failed.

The Sabers attempted one final onside kick, but this try was covered by Riverside’s Brady Pavalonis, ultimately ending Susquehanna’s comeback bid.

Riverside (6-0 overall, 1-0) will travel to Dunmore next Saturday afternoon where they will meet Holy Cross and attempt to continue their unbeaten season. Susquehanna (4-2, 0-1), certainly a force to be reckoned with, will attempt to rebound in their Saturday afternoon contest at home against Old Forge.

GAME SUMMARY

1st Quarter

RIV – Richie Kostoff 20-yd pass from Chase Taddonio (Santino D’Amico kick) – Riverside 7-0

2nd Quarter

RIV – Kostoff 14-yd pass from Taddonio (D’Amico kick) – Riverside 14-0

RIV – Max Jackson 32-yd pass from Brayden Rose (D’Amico kick) – Riverside 21-0

RIV – Gerry Rose 32-yd pass from Taddonio (Kick failed) – Riverside 27-0

3rd Quarter

SUS  – Weston Yannone 55-yd run (Run failed) – Riverside 27-6

SUS – Parker Overbaugh 16-yd pass from Yannone (Kick failed) – Riverside 27-12

4th Quarter

RIV – Taddonio 2-yd run (D’Amico kick) – Riverside 34-12

SUS – Yannone 54-yd run (Mason Keyes pass from Yannone) – Riverside 34-20

SUS – Yannone 19-yd run (Pass failed) – Riverside 34-26