When the month of October began, the Riversprings football team had a 1-2 record, and was staring down the barrel of its first losing season since 2001, in which the Bears finished 2-6.

October 4th found the Bears on the road and headed down Highway 20 to play the unbeaten Tolar Bulldogs in Bristol.  The game turned out to be a defensive struggle between two teams that usually display lots of offensive firepower.  The Bulldogs shut down the Bears running game, while RMS locked down the Tolar air attack. 

The night's first score came in the 1st quarter, when Demarcus Lindsey returned a Bulldog punt 75 yards for a touchdown.  The PAT was no good, so the Bears led 6-0.  That score would stand until the fourth play of the 4th quarter, when the Tolar quarterback ran in a TD run from the 6 yard line.  Tolar was unable to capitalize on their PAT attempt, and the score was tied 6-6.  The contest would be decided in overtime.

RMS won the toss, and elected to begin on defense.  It would take three plays, but the Bulldogs scored a go ahead touchdown.  After a missed PAT try, the score was 12-6.  The Bears took over, and a Zach Norman pass to Demarcus Lindsey got RMS down to the 1 yard line, where Norman used his feet to punch in the tying touchdown.  The Bears were poised to win the game on the PAT attempt, but RMS fumbled away the snap and the opportunity. 

Another fumble started the 2nd overtime period for the Bears, which Tolar recovered.  The Bulldogs J.J. House then ran for the winning score for the Bulldogs.  The loss dropped the Bears record to 1-3. Zach Norman led the offense, passing 6 of 12 for 115 yards 0 TD’s and 1 interception.  Norman also rushed for a touchdown.  Demarcus Lindsey had 84 yards receiving.  Defensively, Jacob Marin led RMS in tackles.

The Bears next game was against Kingdom Life Prep.  Starters and captains Demarcus Lindsey and Jacob Austin would miss the game due to injuries sustained late in the Tolar game.  Offensively, Zach Norman and Justin Davis rose to the challenge and led the Bears to a 26-14 victory.  Norman was 7 of 12 passing for 87 yards, 1 td and 2 interceptions.  Davis carried the ball 4 times for 31 yards and 2 tds.  Davis also caught 2 passes for 15 yards.  Jake McCarl was the leading tackler for the RMS defense.  The win lifted the Bears’ record to 2-3, with the annual Sand-Gnat Slobber-Knocker between RMS and cross county rival WMS looming.

Thursday, October 18th saw J.D. Jones Stadium filled and brimming over with anticipation as the RMS Bears hosted the WMS Wildcats for the Wakulla County Middle School Football Championship.  The game was a contrast of styles, which was a recipe for an old fashioned barn-burner.  WMS steady grind it out running game versus the RMS mixed bag of passing and running. 

Riversprings received the opening kickoff and began a drive at their own 30, which culminated in a 20 yard touchdown pass from Zach Norman to Justin Davis.  WMS then marched down the field, fueled by its three-headed rushing machine, powered by running backs Cephus Green and Tavelle Curry, and quarterback Derek Allen.  The Wildcats compiled over 300 rushing yards before the night was over.  Wakulla Middle took the lead after an eight play drive that ended in a touchdown and a successful PAT.  The lead was short lived, as Justin Davis returned the ensuing WMS kickoff back 80 yards for a Riversprings touchdown.

The scoring would go back and forth between the two teams, and late in the 4th quarter it seemed that the Wildcats would break the lock that Riversprings has had on the County Championship for the last four consecutive years, as Wakulla Middle took a 28-26 lead with just over three minutes remaining in the game.  Eighth grader Jake McCarl entered the game at quarterback for Zach Norman, who had been injured on the Bears previous touchdown play, and orchestrated a six play drive that covered 51 yards.  RMS took the lead for good, when McCarl ran into the end zone from the 12 yard line with a little over 50 seconds left in the game.  Riversprings defensive back Elexpie Johnson iced the game when he intercepted a fourth down desperation pass by the Wildcats. 

RMS quarterback Zach Norman finished the night 6 of 9 for 154 yards and 3 touchdowns with 0 interceptions.  Demarcus Lindsey led all receivers with 77 yards on 2 receptions.  Jake McCarl led all rushers with 48 yards on 5 carries and 1 touchdown, all on the Bears’ final drive.

Riversprings evens their season record at 3-3, with two games remaining.  RMS will be back in action on Thursday, October 25th at J.D. Jones Stadium at Jerry Reynolds Field at 6:00 p.m.  The Bears will close out the 2012 season at Kingdom Life in Tallahassee on Tuesday, October 30th  at 4:30 p.m.
     

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