Play till the clock is zeros. That’s what good teams do. Bishop Carroll is a little better than good. A furious 4th quarter comeback just wasn’t enough as Riverside posted a 34-20 victory over the Huskies. The comeback began with 10:12 left in the 4th quarter and Riverside holding a commanding 28-6 lead. Following a 32 yard pass to Curt Panick from Huskies qb Josh Barzdo and a personal foul penalty against the Vikings on the play, Barzdo first ran 21 yards then took the ball from 1 yard out for 6. Ryan Woo completed the two point conversion that made the score 28-14. On the ensuing kickoff Bishop Carroll attempted to capture the momentum but Kyle Walsh took the onside kick 43 yards to the Carroll 7. Two plays later Viking qb Corey Talerico scored on a long run to the left making the score 34-14 with just 8 minutes left.
The Huskies still wouldnt give up. A 36 yard catch by Josh Shall and a 25 yard td scamper from Ryan Woo capped the scoring. The game started with a bang and the Huskies drawing first blood. On second and nine from the 25, Barzdo faked left then turned around the right end with no defenders in sight and went 75 yards for the first score of the game. The pat failed and Bishop Carroll led 6-0 just two plays into the game. Disaster almost struck twice for Riverside as Talerico attempted a shovel pass athe the Viking 48 only to throw it right into the hands of Huskie lineman Josh Beck, who returned the interception to the Viking 15. Riversides defense held tough and Carrolls drive ended with and interception in the endzone by Talerico.
The Vikings methodically drove the length of the field on the legs of Nick Rossi and Talerico. On third and one, Talerico went around the right side and scampered 36 yards to tie the score. The pat failed but a momentum switch had occurred. Riverside then controlled the rest of the half. Following the next Huskie possession, which ended with a punt to the Viking 21, Talerico hit Skylar Lavage and the big tight end did the rest, breaking and avoiding tackles on his way to an 82 yard td reception. The pat failed making it 12-6 in favor of Riverside. With 3:28 left in the half, Lacavage again received the ball from Talerico and ran 54 yards to paydirt. The 2 pointer was converted and the Vikings went into the locker room with a 20-6 lead.
Riverside took the second half kickoff and drove 56 yards. Rossi capped the drive with a bruising 6 yard run. The two point conversion was good giving the Vikings a 28-6 lead.
Riverside will play Clairton , a 48-8 winner over Farrell, at Hersheypark Stadium on Friday at 2:00 for the class A state title.
