Not rain nor mud nor even a 90-minute lightning delay could stop the Riverside wagon Friday night!

The Rebels advanced to the Division IV Select state championship after a 34-7 road win against the No. 1 seeded Vermilion Catholic Eagles in horrendous conditions on Friday. Heavy rain fell through most of the game and lightning forced a 90 minute delay. But the Rebels handled it.

Now, for the first time since 2016 the Riverside Academy Rebels will compete for the state title. The Rebels (12-1) will travel to the Caesars Superdome to take on the Southern Lab Kittens (11-1) on Thursday, Dec. 7 at 3:30 p.m.

To get there, the Rebels had to get past a tough opponent, last year’s state runner-up. But the defense shut out the Eagles’ offense for the first time since 2021 when Abbeville shut out the Eagles 43-0. Their only score came on an interception return in the first half.

The Rebels started strong with Chris Becknell rushing it in from four yards out to put the Rebels up 7-0. On the next drive, running back Dedric Lastie scored on a 32 yard run to make the score 14-0. Becknell put the Rebels ahead 21-0 with a 2-yard run.

The Eagles scored on a pick-6 with about five minutes remaining in the first half. But the Rebels continued their scoring with Kenric Johnson throwing a 10-yard touchdown pass to Jaedon Butler to make the score 27-7. But with 1:03 remaining, referees cleared the field due to lightning. The delay lasted 90 minutes.

Coach Lee Roussel said parents wiped out the Vermilion Catholic concessions stand of Snickers bars to keep the players energy. He also was happy to see that nearly all of the Rebels’ fans were still there when play resumed.

“It was good for us that our fans took the buses so they couldn’t go home,” Roussel said. “After the rain delay, we came out and there was a long walk back to the field. People were blowing their horns and flicking their lights letting us know they were still there. Seeing that was pretty cool.”

When play resumed, Lastie scored again from 12 yards out to make the final score 34-7 and secured the Rebels’ spot in Thursday’s championship final at the Superdome.

“Growing up in southern Louisiana, the Superdome is the Holy Grail of football venues,” said Coach Pierce Bonck, the offensive line coach. “The countless Super Bowls, Saints playoff games, and high school state championships played there have built such a rich history of football in the Dome. This is everything you play the game for and coach the game for. The Dome is a special place”

“Playing in the superdome is a great feeling.” saidLastie “This is a dream come true because as a kid you dream of playing there when you get to the high school level.  But the goal isn’t just to play in the Superdome for a state championship. The goal is to win it all and it’s going to come down to the team who wants it more, who is more prepared, and who could face adversity the best.”