Riverchase football begins season with victories

Published 11:52 am Wednesday, September 1, 2010

The Riverchase Middle School football team began its season with dominating victories over rivals Oak Mountain and Chelsea. (Contributed)

The first two weeks of the fall football season have resulted in dominating victories over area opponents for the Riverchase Middle School Panther football team.

Riverchase took down rival Oak Mountain Middle School 56-34 during an Aug. 19 jamboree game, which saw the Panther offense put up 323 rushing yards and 206 passing yards.

Quarterback Hunter Stovall was 14 for 27 passing for 206 yards with two touchdown passes, and rushed for 160 yards and three touchdowns in the jamboree.

Other offensive stars were Zach Allison with six catches for 126 yards and two touchdowns, Paul Christian Benton with three receptions for 31 yards and Chase Sherrer with one catch for 24 yards, John Taylor Kepler with two receptions for 14 yards and eight rushes for 42 yards.

Taylor Petty also had two catches for 11 yards and six rushes for 118 yards and two touchdowns, and kicker Austin Bowen made all eight of his extra point attempts in the game.

Kem Muruako, Desmond Kersh, Bowen, Easton Ancelet and Sam Finnerty led the defense. Tray Jones also returned an interception for a touchdown.

In Riverchase’s season opener, the Panthers pounded Chelsea Middle School 31-8 to begin the season 1-0.

The Riverchase offense recorded more than 250 yards in the game, and Stovall completed 71 of 10 passes for 125 yards and two touchdown passes. He also rushed for more than 50 yards and one touchdown.

Offensive leaders were Allison with 80 yards receiving and one touchdown, Kepler with 40 yards receiving and one touchdown and Benton with 8 yards receiving. Petty had more than 50 yards rushing and added one touchdown on the ground.

Bowen remained perfect on the season, hitting all four of his extra points and a 25-yard field goal from the right hash mark in the fourth quarter.

The defense was led by Matthew Messler, Jordon Sample, Austin Barclay, Cory Dodson, Kenny Hoover, Finnerty and Kersh.