Recap
Jermyn, PA — RIVERSIDE 41 LAKELAND 13
At Chapman Lake in a battle of unbeaten teams, Riverside used a relentless second-half attack to overwhelm Lakeland 41-13.
The Vikings struck paydirt on their second possession of the evening when standout senior quarterback Chase Taddonio found J.J. Rogers on a short out pattern near the right sideline. Rogers reversed field and angled 66 yards into the end zone. Santino D’Amico’s placement made it 7-0 with 5:49 left in the opening quarter.
The Vikings used outstanding defensive plays from Richie Kostoff and Quinn Puchilowski to force a Chief punt on the next possession. After a 47 yard strike from Taddonio to Rogers set up the Vikings inside the Chiefs’ 10-yard line, Taddonio bounced into the end zone from 7 yards away. D’Amico added the point to increase the advantage to 14-0 with 1:21 left in the first stanza.
The Chiefs, hindered all night long by penalties and dropped passes, were forced to punt once again and the Vikings took over inside Lakeland territory at the 46-yard line. On 3rd down and 5, Taddonio found Kostoff open in the left flat. The senior tight end scampered untouched to the end zone for a 41-yard score. D’Amico’s point after sailed wide and, with 9:20 remaining before halftime, Riverside led 20-0.
The rest of the first half belonged entirely to Lakeland. On their next drive, the Chiefs marched 73 yards in 11 plays. Quarterback David Naniewicz found his favorite target, Chase Rosenkrans near the left sideline. Rosenkrans eluded one tackler and converted the pass into a 35-yard scoring play. With 4:09 to go in the second quarter, the Chiefs had cut the lead to 20-7.
Forced to punt after Naniewicz sacked his counterpart, Taddonio, Riverside was staggered by another Lakeland scoring drive. This time, the Chiefs covered 70 yards in 10 plays, overcoming many penalties along the way. Naniewicz took care of the final 4 yards on his own. Ryan Bianchi’s kick was blocked, and the half ended with Riverside clinging to a 20-13 lead.
From that point forward, the game was dominated by Coach Harry Armstrong’s Vikings. The Riverside offense would score 21 unanswered points in the second half. Riverside took the second half's opening kickoff and marched 72 yards in 11 plays. Lanky sophomore speedster Carmello Barnett did the honors for the Vikings, scooting 12 yards after breaking tackles. D’Amico made it 27-13 with the point after. Riverside used over half of the 3rd quarter clock on that drive, scoring at 5:49.
Kostoff once again was a demon on the defensive side of the football, making tackles from sideline to sideline and thwarting another Lakeland drive. After a very short Lakeland punt, Riverside had only to travel 37 yards, which they managed in just five plays. Taddonio hurdled a tackler on his way to a 22-yard scoring jaunt, making the score 34-13 with 1:35 remaining in the 3rd quarter.
After a quick three and out, Riverside again took over deep in Lakeland territory at the 30-yard line. It took the Vikings just one play to find the end zone as Taddonio hooked up with sophomore receiver Jared Jackson, who had managed to find residence all alone in the middle of the Lakeland secondary. D’Amico’s final extra point made the score at game’s end 41-13, as both teams emptied their benches in the final quarter.
Riverside will look to continue on their unbeaten path next week when the Vikings host Lake-Lehman which will enter the contest in Taylor at 2-1. Lakeland will hope to rebound from their initial loss of the season next week when they travel to West Pittston to face fellow 2-1 squad, Wyoming Area.
SCORING SUMMARY
1st Quarter
RIV – J.J. Rogers 66-yd pass from Chase Taddonio (Santino D’Amico kick) – Riverside 7-0
RIV – Taddonio 6-yd run (D’Amico kick) – Riverside 14-0
2nd Quarter
RIV – Richie Kostoff 41-yd pass from Taddonio (Kick failed) – Riverside 20-0
LAK – Chase Rosenkrans 37-yd pass from Naniewicz (Ryan Bianchi kick) – Riverside 20-7
LAK – David Naniewicz 3-yd run (Kick failed) – Riverside 20-13
3rd Quarter
RIV – Carmello Barnett 11-yd run (D’Amico kick) – Riverside 27-13
RIV – Taddonio 26-yd run (D’Amico kick) – Riverside 34-13
RIV – Jared Jackson 30-yd pass from Taddonio (D’Amico kick) – Riverside 41-13
4th Quarter
None