The Riversprings Bears kicked off the 2011 football season on Friday, August 26th against cross county rival Wakulla Middle school.

The format of the early season game was much like last seasons’ early contest, except this years’ game had starters playing the first half, and the younger and less experienced players playing the second half.  RMS had a great night in both halves, which saw the Bear offense muster over 350 yards total offense, and the defense score two touchdowns while forcing three turnovers.

RMS got the scoring started early with special teams.  WMS squib kicked the opening kickoff down the middle of the field.  The ball found its way to the hands of 7th grader Demarcus Lindsey, who found his way to the endzone for a 61 yard touchdown return.  Eighth grade running back Monterious Loggins pinched in the conversion to make the opening score 8-0.

RMS never looked back, scoring 38 unanswered points in the first quarter.  Members of the RMS starting backfield touched the ball only five times on offensive plays (excluding extra points), which gave plenty of second and some third team players a chance to play early in the game.  In a pleasant surprise, first year player Matthew Bowyer carried the ball four times for 92 yards, including a 60 yard touchdown jaunt.

The Riversprings “Killer Claw” defense kept the pressure on the Wildcats all night.  Big Kyle Weaver and his defensive line mates held the Cats in check, enabling the RMS linebackers to swarm to the ball.  Seventh grade defensive back Justin Davis forced a wildcat fumble, which he promptly scooped up and took in for a 22 yard touchdown.  First year player Kelton Donaldson also recovered a fourth quarter fumble and returned it for a 12 yard touchdown, which helped the “young guys” of RMS outpace their Wildcat counterparts 12-8.  In total, Riversprings played all 49 kids that dressed for the game.

At the end of the night, RMS finished with a final score of 56-8.  “We liked a lot of what we saw, but we know we still have a lot of work to do,” RMS Coach Joey Jacobs said.  “We played a far from perfect game, so we are going to try and get better and better.” 

The Bears and the Wildcats will mix it up under the Friday night lights again on October 14th for the Wakulla County Championship.  RMS will be back in action again on Tuesday, August 30th against Suwannee at JD Jones Stadium at Jerry Reynolds Field at 7:00 p.m.  Come out and show your support for the Bears!

2011 Riversprings Middle School Bears

Photo by Mary K. Westmark

Written by :

Maximost

 

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