Van Buren stuffs Riverdale attack in statement BVC win

MOUNT BLANCHARD — Van Buren didn't get all of the details 100% right on Friday night. What the Black Knights had were 43 players pulling excruciatingly hard toward the same goal. "The mindset was, 'Beat Riverdale,'" junior Mason Thorla-Lopez said. "We've been saying it all week. Coaches have been saying it all week. Beat Riverdale. Beat Riverdale. I mean, they just pounded it in us all week. We were mad." All of that anger and frustration from a slow start to the season was unleashed in a 14-12 victory over Riverdale (3-2, 1-2 BVC) that shook up the Blanchard Valley Conference race. Despite nearly 100 yards in penalties and numerous stalled drives, the Black Knights (2-3, 2-1) would not be denied. "We were preaching to our kids, this is a game to turn our season around going into the next five weeks," Van Buren coach Ethan Percer said. To do so, the Knights had to slow down the BVC's leading passer in Falcons senior Heath Dunbar. Against aggressive man-to-man coverage, Dunbar completed only 10 of 30 passes for 113 yards and one interception. Prior to his encounter with Van Buren, the Riverdale star had compiled 1,031 passing yards with a 65% completion rate. "We blitzed, we got after him, put some pressure on him," Percer said. "We saw he could throw against zone, let's give him some man coverage and see what he can do." Aiding in those efforts were Lucas Harrington and Collin Wagner, both of whom returned from injuries that kept them out of last week's 63-7 loss to McComb. The Falcons dynamic duo of Cameron Furr and Tristan Wilson struggled to wriggle free. "We knew what they were going to do defensively," Riverdale coach Sam Petrie said. "We came in with a game plan, and tonight they were just better than us. We couldn't beat their man coverage, and when we did we didn't put the ball where it needed to be." Van Buren came out aggressive from the start, despite a failed onside kick attempt that offered Riverdale a short field on its opening drive. The Falcons converted with a 6-yard Davin Harbor run, but failed the first of two conversion attempts on the night. The Black Knights responded by throwing deep, and quarterback Parker Beilharz found Thorla-Lopez for a 48-yard strike. The extra point failed, leaving the score 6-6. The next drive, after a Riverdale punt, Beilharz and Thorla-Lopez connected on a fourth-and-10 from the 11-yard line to go in front. Lucas Harrington ran in the conversion that ended up being the difference. The Falcons' other score came late in the second quarter when Harbor scampered 37 yards. Riverdale had the ball four times in the second half, resulting in a punt, a fumble and a pair of turnovers on downs. Harbor ran 24 times for 103 yards, as the Falcons compiled 216 yards of offense. Harrington had 57 yards on 21 carries for Van Buren, and Beilharz completed 4 of 10 passes for 100 yards, including both touchdowns and one interception. The Black Knights had 185 offensive yards. "This will give us momentum," senior lineman James Homan said. "It gives us a good shot at even getting into the playoffs with this win, but we need to continue to build on it." Van Buren&ensp;&ensp;&ensp;&ensp;14&ensp;&ensp;&ensp;&ensp;&ensp;0&ensp;&ensp;&ensp;&ensp;&ensp;0&ensp;&ensp;&ensp;&ensp;0 -- 14 Riverdale&ensp;&ensp;&ensp;6&ensp;&ensp;&ensp;&ensp;6&ensp;&ensp;&ensp;&ensp;0&ensp;&ensp;&ensp;&ensp;0 -- 12 First Quarter Riv — Davin Harbor 6 run (Pass failed) VB — Mason Thorla-Lopez 48 pass from Parker Beilharz (Kick failed) VB — Thorla-Lopez 11 pass from Beilharz (Lucas Harrington run) Second Quarter Riv — Harbor 37 run (Run failed)