District Showdown

Riverside Beats St. Martin’s in Battle of the Running Backs

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Lori Lyons

Coach Lee Roussel addresses his team after the win against St. Martin’s on Oct. 7.

Noah Trepagnier, Sports Editor

The Riverside Academy Rebels shut down Harlem Berry, the number one running back in the Class of 2025, and the rest of the St. Martin’s Saints in a 35-7 victory on Oct. 7. Many considered the game to be District 9-1A Championship between the league’s top two teams. St. Martin’s game into the game 5-0 while the Rebels were 4-1 with a non-district loss to the Newman Greenies.

But while all eyes were on Berry, it was Riverside senior running back Elijah “Bill” Davis who stole the show. The ULL commit  rushed for 204 yards on 21 carries and scored four touchdowns while  the Rebels’ defense held Berry to a season-low 109 yards on 24 carries. Davis scored on runs of 53 and 4 yards in the first quarter and added runs of 51 and 2 yards later in the game. Emmanuel “Manny” Franklin scored on a 3-yard run in the fourth quarter to give Riverside a 35-0 lead.

The Saints’ lone score came on a 78-yard kickoff return in the fourth quarter.

The Rebels will travel to West St. John in Edgard this Friday night.

Manny Franklin runs for yardage on Oct. 7 against St. Martin’s