Riverview Scores With 15 Seconds Left to Beat Marshall
Riverview 30, Marshall 22
SEARCY — Riverview scored on a touchdown run with 15 seconds remaining, added a two-point conversion and recovered a fumble on the final play to beat Marshall 30–22 Friday. The Raiders earned their first victory of the season on homecoming night in the conference opener.
Marshall opened the scoring with an 80-yard drive. Ely Couch started it with a 13-yard run, and Stretch Childers found Christian Flynn for a third-down completion to the Riverview 24. Couch later carried inside the 10 before finishing with a short touchdown run. Childers ran for the conversion and an 8–0 lead.
Riverview answered in the second quarter with a scoring possession that began near midfield. Its quarterback extended the drive with a first-down scramble and escaped pressure to complete a pass near the goal line. A keeper and successful two-point conversion tied the score 8–8. Marshall’s field-goal attempt at the end of the half missed left.
Hayden Haynes secured the second-half kickoff, starting Marshall at its 40. Couch converted a third-and-short, and Childers scrambled to just short of the goal line on another third down. A short touchdown run put the Bobcats ahead 14–8, but the conversion failed.
Riverview responded after an intentional-grounding penalty pushed it backward. Austin Hill escaped a near sack and connected with Braxton Hobbs for an 89-yard touchdown. The two-point run gave the Raiders their first lead, 16–14. Hill completed 14 of 17 passes for 195 yards and a touchdown, with one interception. Hobbs caught five passes for 102 yards and carried 12 times for 77 yards.
Marshall regained the lead after Childers completed a fourth-and-4 pass to Couch to sustain its next possession. Childers then threw a touchdown pass to Gage LaRue and found Couch for two more points, making it 22–16. Johnny Wilson answered with a touchdown run around the left side with 16 seconds left in the third quarter. Marshall stopped the conversion, leaving the teams tied 22–22.
Wilson finished with seven carries for 34 yards and a touchdown. Micah Stinson also contributed a rushing touchdown and 10 rushing yards for Riverview.
The fourth quarter remained scoreless through a series of defensive stops and turnovers. Riverview took the ball away from Couch on a third-and-short run, but Logan Kite intercepted a tipped pass on the ensuing possession. His return gave Marshall another opportunity with 2:49 remaining.
Riverview then tackled John Massey for a 5-yard loss and forced an incompletion on fourth-and-10. The Raiders opened their winning possession with a deep completion, then followed with three running plays, the last producing the go-ahead touchdown. The conversion extended the lead to eight points.
Jaydon Salas gained a first down on a reverse during Marshall’s final possession. The Bobcats spiked the ball to preserve one last play, but Riverview recovered the ensuing snap to finish the victory.
Scoring summary
First quarter
- Marshall — Ely Couch touchdown run; Stretch Childers two-point run. Marshall 8–0.
Second quarter
- Riverview — Touchdown on a quarterback keeper; two-point conversion good. Tied 8–8.
Third quarter
- Marshall — Short touchdown run; two-point attempt failed. Marshall 14–8.
- Riverview — Braxton Hobbs 89-yard touchdown pass from Austin Hill; two-point run good. Riverview 16–14.
- Marshall — Gage LaRue touchdown pass from Stretch Childers; Ely Couch two-point pass from Childers. Marshall 22–16.
- Riverview — Johnny Wilson touchdown run, 0:16; two-point attempt failed. Tied 22–22.
Fourth quarter
- Riverview — Touchdown run, 0:15; two-point run good. Riverview 30–22.
Players who stood out
- Braxton Hobbs, Riverview: Five catches for 102 yards, including an 89-yard touchdown; 12 carries for 77 yards.
- Austin Hill, Riverview: Completed 14 of 17 passes for 195 yards and one touchdown, with one interception. Escaped pressure on the touchdown throw to Hobbs.
- Johnny Wilson, Riverview: Seven carries for 34 yards and a touchdown. His scoring run tied the game with 16 seconds left in the third quarter.
- Micah Stinson, Riverview: Rushed for 10 yards and a touchdown.
- Stretch Childers, Marshall: Threw a touchdown pass to Gage LaRue, ran for one two-point conversion and passed to Ely Couch for another. His third-down scramble set up Marshall’s second touchdown.
- Ely Couch, Marshall: Scored Marshall’s opening touchdown, caught a two-point conversion and caught a pass to convert fourth-and-4 on the third-quarter touchdown drive.
- Gage LaRue, Marshall: Caught the third-quarter touchdown pass that put the Bobcats back ahead before the conversion made it 22–16.
- Logan Kite, Marshall: Intercepted a tipped pass and returned it to give Marshall possession with 2:49 remaining in the fourth quarter.