TAYLOR – Riverside rolled over Old Forge 36-7 Friday night at Veterans Memorial Stadium. The Vikings (5-0) dominated the first half by scoring 30 points in the half.
The Vikings took a commanding 14-0 lead in the first quarter. Corey Talerico scored on a 23-yard run and Nick Rossi’s 19-yard touchdown run gave them a two touchdown lead.
Rossi said, “The offensive line worked hard all week. We just came out strong.”
It showed early in the game. The Blue Devils had only one first down and turned the ball over on an interception by Riverside’s Matt Briskie.
In the second quarter Riverside’s defense would continue their domination. Dave Sweetman intercepted a pass that led to another score. The Vikings drove eight plays for 35 yards. Talerico threw a strike to Paul Lassiter for the nine-yard touchdown pass to make it 22-0.
The Vikings went on the move again late in the first half. A 16-play drive ended on a Talerico one-yard touchdown run that pushed the lead to 30-0 with 29 seconds left in the half.
Riverside came out the second half right where they left off in the first half. On their first drive they went right down the field. Talerico found Skylar Lavage for a six-yard score. The rout was on, 36-0 Vikings.
Old Forge got on the board in the fourth quarter after many of the reserves were in the game. Michael Tagliaferri scored on a nine-yard run.
In the end Riverside overpowered Old Forge to the win. Corey Talerico led the way completing 13 of 21 passes for 144 yards. He rushed for 84 yards and two scores.
Talerico said, “To play our rivals here on our home field with all of our family and the community behind us and win is so huge.”
Defensively they held Old Forge under 70 total yards of offense.
