- November 18, 2022
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Sarasota linebacker Jacquez King grabs the facemask of Riverview's Charles Lester Jr. on the game's opening kick return. King was called for a penalty.
Riverview quarterback Will Carter Jr. fires a pass to his right.
Sarasota quarterback Lance Trippel is sacked by the Rams defense.
Sarasota quarterback Lance Trippel fires a pass to his left before the Rams pass rush gets to him.
Sarasota running back Jarmel Holloway gets dragged down by Riverview's defense.
Sarasota punter Andrew Clayton falls on a low snap.
Sarasota wide receiver Tyler Pack comes up with a tough catch.
Riverview wide receiver Jaron Glover, middle, goes up against two Sailors for a jump ball. Glover would make the catch.
Riverview running back Jay'den Birch fends off Sarasota's Kafale Rivers.
Riverview running back Jay'den Birch rolls over a defender into the end zone.
Sarasota quarterback Lance Trippel fires a swing pass to running back Jarmel Holloway.
Riverview quarterback Will Carter Jr. (2) celebrates with Charles Lester Jr. after the pair combined on a passing touchdown.
This year's rivalry game between the Riverview Rams and the Sarasota Sailors was supposed to be must-see.
Both teams entered with 4-1 records and, this year, the teams are in the same district, giving the game extra stakes on top of local bragging rights. But instead of being must-see, it became something fans have seen for a decade now: A convincing Rams win.
Riverview (5-1) beat Sarasota (4-2) 35-0 on Friday night at the Ram Bowl, the school's 10th straight win in the series. The Rams did it with a stonewalling defense that held the Sailors to less than 100 offensive yards. They also took advantage of nearly every Sarasota mistake, including a botched snap on a punt that set up the Rams on the Sailors' 11 yard line. Rams running back Jay'den Birch ran for one of his three touchdowns a few plays later.
The game hit a running clock in the third quarter after Sarasota failed to convert on a fourth down from its own 25 yard line and, five plays later, Rams quarterback Joe Borchers found wide receiver Johnell Williams in the end zone to make it 35-0. Borchers continued to split time with Will Carter Jr., who threw a touchdown to Charles Lester Jr. earlier in the third quarter.
The Sarasota passing game struggled to find a rhythm. Quarterback Lance Trippel finished the game 9-for-16 for 53 yards.