Coming into the Rivers game, the team had just run off four straight wins, weathered restrictive assessment but did suffer some bangs and bruises to a number of players in the previous game. With a short week and having to fill in players for those injured players, it didn't feel like a usual week of practice. Rivers was on its own run, only losing one early game in the season.
Rivers won the coin toss and deferred, giving the MX 11 the first chance with the ball. Our offensive unit did not disappoint, as they took the ball right down the field and scored on a 12-yard run by tailback Bo Bensley '23. Liam Connor added the PAT for an early 7-0 lead. Rivers' high-powered offense would answer immediately on a 9-yard pass, to tie the score 7-7 to end the first quarter. The MX defense was standing tall through the second quarter, causing two fumbles, one recovered by defensive end Hunter Kuftinec '23. Although the MX offense missed a couple of scoring opportunities, River would capitalize on a long pass midway through the period to take a 14-7 lead into halftime.
The third quarter was much like the second with the MX defense continually causing third downs for the Rivers offense, unfortunately, they would convert on most of them to keep possession of the ball. Rivers would break through for another score on a short run extending their lead to 21-14. The MX offense responded as they had done throughout the season, connecting on a long pass from Cam Fries '22 to wide receiver Liam Connor to set up a QB sneak by Fries to again bring the score to a one TD difference at 21-14. However, Rivers would score again before the end of the period for a 28-14 lead.
The MX 11 defense never stopped fighting and Liam Connor's fourth quarter interception sparked the offense, as they moved the ball down the field helped by another lengthy pass from Fries to wide receiver Mark Conde '22 and then added a nifty 29-yard scramble on fourth and ten by Fries to set the eventual TD pass again from Fries to Conde bringing the score to 28-21 with 6:29 left to go in the game. But the comeback was not to be, as Rivers would score twice more by the end of the period to come away with a 42-21 victory.
As we head into our last game of the season, against our perennial rival St. George's. I would like to thank the coaches for their hard work throughout the season, the captains and entire senior class for their leadership, and all the players for their continued dedication and effort. There is only one way we all want to end this season, and that is with a resounding victory over St. George's. This game will be at home at 1:15 next Saturday.
