River Oaks overcame four first half turnovers and held Centreville to 136 yards rushing to advance to their second straight South AA state championship game against top ranked Brookhaven next Friday night.
Centreville got an early break as River Oaks quarterback Ryan MacGregor was picked off by sophomore defensive back Randy Bell at the Mustang’s 40 yard line just three plays into the game.
(Above) River Oaks defensive end Joseph Bryant (#33) pressures Centreville quarterback Cliff Hurst
Centreville cashed in on the interception and slowly pounded the ball to the 1 yard line behind the running of Cliff Hurst. Quarterback Tyler Towles went in at the 7:13 mark of the opening quarter and Randy Bell added the PAT to give Centreville a 7-0 lead.
River Oaks looked primed to overcome the early turnover on their second possession as the Mustangs drove 53 yards to the Centreville 27 yard line but a fumble at the 23 yard line ended the drive with 5:39 remaining in the 1st quarter.
The River Oaks defense put the football back into the hands of their offense as senior Corey Talley recovered a Centreville fumble at the Tiger 23 yard line two plays later. 
(Above) River Oaks tailback Teshadi Talton (#9) trys to escape the grasp of Centreville linebacker Tyler Towles (#8)
River Oaks seemed to have stalled at the Centreville 6 yard line but a critical offsides infraction on the Tigers set the Mustangs up with a 4th and goal from the 3 yard line. Tailback Henry Biedenharn’s number was called and the junior delivered as he sped around the right side and into the endzone with 1:30 left in the quarter. Brogan Brasseaux added the PAT to tie the game at 7-7 to wind down the 1st quarter.
River Oaks forced the Centreville offense into a three and out but four plays later the Mustangs committed their third turnover of the game via fumble at their own 35 yard line with 9:27 remaining in the half.
Centreville threatened to capitalize on another River Oaks turnover as Cliff Hurst carried five consecutive times to move the line of scrimmage to the River Oaks 5 yard line but a holding penalty and the River Oaks defense forced Centreville into a Cliff Hurst field goal attempt from 32 yards out. Hurst’s attempt was blocked as defensive back Aaron Rogers (photo below) sped around the right end to block the attempt with 4:47 remaining in the quarter. 
(Above) River Oaks defensive back Aaron Rogers (#24) blocks a 2nd quarter FG attempt
River Oaks set the tone in a 2nd half in which their defense didn’t allow any big plays and a running game that found its rhythm.
On their first possession of the 2nd half River Oaks produced the first big offensive play of the game as tailback Teshadi Talton jetted 40 yards to cap off a 5 play, 64 yard drive that took just over two minutes. Brasseaux’s PAT at the 7:25 mark put the Mustangs up 14-7.
Centreville looked to be picking up steam on their last possession of the 3rd quarter. Tyler Towles connected with Devin Hughes for a 20 yard gain to the River Oaks 48 yard line and three plays later J.T. Doughty sprinted 17 yards to set the Tigers up at the Mustang 31. Two straight Cliff Hurst carries pushed the line of scrimmage to the River Oaks 22 yard line to end the 3rd quarter.
The Centreville offense seemed to have hit a wall to start the final quarter. Three plays produced 0 yards and facing a 4th and 10 at the River Oaks 19 yard line Centreville’s Devin Hughes was stopped for a loss by junior Aaron Rogers as the Tigers turned the football over on downs with 10:58 remaining in the contest. 
(Above) Centreville's rushing attack was held to 136 yards on the night
River Oaks threatened to increase their lead to 21-7 two plays into their possession when Teshadi Talton raced 67 yards for a score but a holding penalty negated the electrifying jaunt. That penalty proved to be costly as River Oaks set up to punt on 4th down from their own 21 yard line. Punter Alex Lavalle had trouble fielding a low snap at the 5 yard line and was forced to cover the football giving Centreville a 1st and goal at the 8:59 mark of the final quarter.
Cliff Hurst ran in from 3 yards out two plays later to capitalize on the River Oaks miscue. With Centreville having narrowed the deficit to 14-13 the Tigers elected to attempt a two-point conversion but Hurst was stopped in the backfield.
Following the Centreville touchdown the Mustangs produced their best drive of the night going 87 yards in 11 plays and chewing up 5:30 in doing so. The River Oaks offensive line opened up lanes and Teshadi Talton found them. The senior tailback had six carries in the drive, the final was a 14 yard touchdown run with 2:45 left in the game. With Brogan Brasseaux’s PAT increasing the Mustang’s advantage to 21-13 there was still caution amongst the big crowd and for good reason.
Centreville exhibited why caution was necessary as the Tigers hit for 26 yards when Cliff Hurst hit Randy Bell with a pass and Bell pitched the ball to Colton Terrell on a well executed hook and ladder play that moved the Tigers to midfield. 
(Above) Centreville's Cliff Hurst (#10) hurdles the pile for positive yards
The River Oaks defense put the finishing touches on the game as defensive end Seth Lawrence sacked Cliff Hurst at the Tiger 48 and Aaron Rogers sealed the deal as the junior intercepted Hurst at the 35 yard line and returned it back to the Mustang 46 with 1:41 remaining.
River Oaks improved to 11-1 and will travel to Brookhaven next Friday while Centreville ends their season at 8-5.
River Oaks tailback Teshadi Talton had a game high 190 yards rushing on 18 carries and two touchdowns and Henry Biedenharn picked up 53 yards rushing and a touchdown.
The Mustangs rushed for 325 yards on the night.
Cliff Hurst led Centreville with 89 yards rushing and a touchdown.
*River Oaks head coach Robert Hannah
*River Oaks junior linebacker Aaron Rogers
*River Oaks senior tailback Teshadi Talton
