Tyson Riley's heroics give Springfield Catholic a thrilling win over Seneca
The duel of top rushing quarterbacks more than lived up to its billing at O'Reilly Family Stadium on Friday night.
Tyson Riley's heroics give Springfield Catholic a thrilling win over Seneca The duel of top rushing quarterbacks more than lived up to its billing at O'Reilly Family Stadium on Friday night. Check out this story on news-leader.com: https://sgfnow.co/2PzEZLz
Andy Carroll, Special to the News-Leader Published 10:47 p.m. CT Aug. 24, 2018 | Updated 2:55 p.m. CT Aug. 25, 2018
Springfield Catholic quarterback Tyson Riley, shown in a file photo, came out on top in a duel of quarterbacks with Seneca's Gavin Clouse.(Photo: Bruce E. Stidham/For the News-Leader)Buy Photo
critesThe duel of top rushing quarterbacks more than lived up to its billing at O'Reilly Family Stadium on Friday night. Someone tell Tyson Riley and company there are still nine games to go.
Gavin Clouse's pass on 4-and-goal from the Catholic nine-yard line fluttered to the end zone turf, ending a marathon contest for the ages. The Fightin' Irish held off a furious second-half charge from Seneca and took the 2018 season opener, 50-42.
"Oh man, we knew Seneca is a really good football team," said Irish head coach Steve Hancock. "That was one heck of a ballgame."
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Visiting quarterback Clouse spun, danced, and willed Seneca to a 42-38 advantage late, marching the Indians 87 yards in the fourth quarter to finally wrestle the lead from the green and gold.
Riley and the Irish offense made sure they didn't hold it for long. With four minutes to play, Nick Crites smashed into the end zone to put Catholic back in front, 44-42.
Just in case there was any doubt who won the clash of star quarterbacks, Riley sprinted 70 yards for his third rushing touchdown of the night to rally Catholic to the final margin. The teams combined for over 1,000 yards of offense in a frantic game played in humid conditions.
Springfield Catholic's Nick Crites smashed into the end zone to put Catholic back in front with four minutes to play in Friday night's season opener against Seneca. (Photo: Bruce E. Stidham/For the News-Leader)
"I can't explain it, I'm so gassed," said two-way starter Wallace Squibb. Riley laughed and said he planned to sleep "like a baby."
Who could blame him?
Riley rushed 22 times for 278 yards and three touchdowns while playing standout defense from the free safety position.
"[Riley] makes me a really good coach," said Hancock. "You got two quarterbacks who could play for anybody here tonight. They both dominated the game."
Clouse rushed 20 times for 269 yards and four rushing touchdowns. He completed 4-of-16 passes for 125 yards.
"That man's a dog," said Riley of Clouse. "I played football against him in seventh grade when I went to Mount Vernon. That's a crazy performance."
Students cheer at a Springfield Catholic football game last year. (Photo: Bruce E. Stidham/For the News-Leader)
In their Big-8 Conference debut, the Fightin' Irish started fast. Catholic chewed up 80 yards on the ground over 11 plays to open the scoring. After Crites was tackled just shy of the goal line, Riley plunged from a yard out to give the Irish a 7-0 lead.
Seneca failed to convert on fourth-and-short, and the Irish needed just two plays to capitalize. Adrian Coulter dashed 21 yards untouched to pay dirt, giving Catholic a quick 14-0 edge.
A long run by Clouse set up the Indians for a six-yard touchdown run by Monty Mailes and the 2-point conversion cut the Irish lead to 14-8. Seneca answered a 39-yard field goal by Catholic's Logan Brock with a five-yard scamper by Clouse. The Indians converted another two-point play to trim the Irish advantage to a point, 17-16, with 7:04 remaining in the first half.
Crites finished a six-play drive on the ensuing possession with an 11-yard touchdown run that gave Catholic an 8-point cushion.
Then two of the Ozarks' best rushing quarterbacks went to work.
Clouse hugged the sideline on an 80-yard dash to bring Seneca within two, 24-22. Two plays later, Riley countered with a dazzling 78-yard run of his own that extended the Irish lead. Clouse and Riley dueled yard for yard, both collecting 153 first-half rushing yards.
On the next Irish possession, Riley connected on his only pass attempt of the half when he found Charlie O'Reilly for a 44-yard reception. Coulter scored his second touchdown of the game on the next play, and the Irish took a 38-22 lead to the locker room.
The visitors regrouped and tested Catholic in the second half.
Alex Cook plowed his way to the endzone with 5:11 remaining and a successful two-point play cut the Irish lead in half. Catholic briefly lost Riley to cramps, and Crites was hobbled on the ensuing drive as well.
Minutes later, Riley was intercepted by Parker Wolfinbarger and the Indians turned the mistake into six more points. But Catholic denied Clouse on the two-point attempt and clung to a 38-36 lead after three quarters.
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