River Oaks hammers Leake to win AA title
Southern Sports & Travel, By Darron Thomas
It was September 3rd and River Oaks was coming off a huge 27-24 home win over Washington one week earlier. The win over a Class AAA school not only gave credence to the notion that the Mustangs were to be taken seriously but it also showcased the talents of senior tailback/defensive back Vincent Moore who put on a dominant performance in front of media and the home crowd. The Mustangs were being touted as a serious contender to win the Class AA state crown. On this particular Friday night in Vicksburg the early season success and hopes took a dramatic turn when Moore went down five minutes into the Mustang’s game with Porter’s Chapel. The result of the hit Moore sustained was a fractured fibula in his left leg and surgery soon followed. On top of Moore’s injury, newcomer Teshadi Talton was nursing a banged up knee that was a result from a direct hit in the Washington game.
Most observers had all but written the Mustangs off following their win over Porter’s Chapel but with a defense that improved each game and a running attack that was aided by underclassmen, River Oaks took home the Class AA State Championship on Friday night with a resounding 40-13 win over Leake Academy at Millsaps College in Jackson.
River Oaks took the opening kickoff and grinded out a 12 play, 64 yard drive that chewed up nearly seven minutes of the 1st quarter. The drive was completed when Davis Harris blasted four yards through the middle of the Leake defense. Brogan Brasseaux added the PAT and with 5:03 remaining in the opening quarter River Oaks held a 7-0 lead. (Above) Leake tailback Brad Hunter (#32) finds little room to run
Leake looked primed to answer as the Rebels put together a 13 play drive that extended two minutes into the 2nd quarter but turned the ball over on downs following an unsuccessful 4th and 7 attempt from the River Oaks 35 yard line.
After forcing River Oaks into a three and out Leake once again moved into River Oaks territory but just as they did on their first possession of the night the Rebels turned the ball over on downs at the Mustang 30 yard line with just over five minutes remaining in the half.
River Oaks increased their lead when Teshadi Talton capped off a 70 yard, 6 play drive with a 5 yard touchdown run with 3:56 left in the half. Davis Harris converted on a 2-point conversion to give the Mustangs a 15-0 lead that they would take into halftime.
River Oaks defensive end Casey Rahn recovered a Leake fumble at the Rebel’s 49 yard line on the first possession of the second half and the Mustangs cashed in quickly as they needed just two plays to extend their lead. Alex Biedenharn raced 49 yards to pay-dirt to put the Mustangs up 21-0 with 9:11 left in the quarter.
Ryan MacGregor’s screen pass to Teshadi Talton at the 4:03 mark of the quarter resulted in a 17 yard touchdown on River Oak’s next possession to up their lead to 27-0. (Above) River Oaks tailback Teshadi Talton goes in for one of his two rushing touchdowns
Leake scored on Grant Wilson’s 6 yard pass to senior Zach McGarr seven seconds into the final quarter to trim the deficit to 27-6 but River Oaks would quickly answer.
With 8:36 remaining in the game a familiar face lined up at quarterback and pushed the Mustang lead to 33-6. Vincent Moore went in from 1 yard out in his first action since the September 3rd win over Porter’s Chapel.
The Mustang’s other senior tailback finished the night off with a touchdown also. Teshadi Talton’s last carry was an electrifying 51 yard scamper to give River Oaks a 40-6 advantage with 6:28 remaining.
Leake capped off the night with a Joshua Mascagni 46 yard touchdown jaunt to close out the scoring.
Teshadi Talton and Alex Biedenharn combined for 248 yards rushing on the night for River Oaks. Biedenharn, a sophomore, rushed for 127 yards on 11 carries and a touchdown while Talton picked up 121 yards on 12 carries and 2 touchdowns on the ground. Henry Biedenharn rushed for 79 yards on 14 carries as the Mustang’s piled up 343 yards on the ground.
Grant Wilson led Leake with 128 yards passing and a touchdown and 89 yards rushing on 12 carries. Joshua Mascagni added 84 yards rushing and a touchdown.
River Oaks won their 3rd state football title in school history and 2nd in the past six years. The Mustangs close out the 2010 season with a 13-1 mark.
Leake finishes at 11-3.
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Post Game Interview
**River Oaks head coach Robert Hannah