Riverview High football uses big second half to beat Cardinal Mooney High

A third-quarter sequence turned the tide of the much-anticipated week four football game between the Cardinal Mooney High Cougars and the Riverview High Rams. 

With the game tied 7-7, the home Cougars had a chance to take the lead, but penalties got in the way. A touchdown run by senior Carson Beach was called back because of a holding penalty. Cardinal Mooney couldn't get a first down following the call, and had to settle for a field goal attempt. But a false start penalty moved the kick back, making it 37 yards instead of 32 yards. The five yards mattered: the kick hit the front of the crossbar and bounced back onto the field, no good. 

On the next snap, Riverview junior running back DJ Johnson took a carry 80 yards for a touchdown. After that, the offensive floodgates opened for the Rams (3-1), who went on to win 35-7 over the Cougars (3-1). 

"The defense was just on the field for too long," Mooney Head Coach Jared Clark said. "You have got to give credit to those guys, though. The difference in the game was we couldn't stop them in the second half." 

Johnson finished with 230 yards and two touchdowns for Riverview, and backfield teammate Isaiah Belt, a sophomore, added 110 yards and two scores. Senior quarterback Braxton Thomas didn't need to do much through the air; he completed just three passes for 45 yards, though he too added a rushing touchdown. 

The Rams' defense held the Mooney offense in check all game. The Cougars got their only points on the game's first play from scrimmage — which came on defense. A scoop-and-score fumble recovery by senior Zy'marion Lang put Mooney on the board. The Cougars were forced to play sophomore quarterback Devin Mignery in the second half after starting quarterback Michael Valentino, a senior, left with an injury.

Riverview High Head Coach Josh Smithers credited his defensive assistants, as well as Rams strength coach Mark Cristiani, with getting his defense ready to go one week after surrendering 42 points to Palmetto High. 

"We do it the old-fashioned way," Smithers said. "Our guys are hard-nosed and blue-collar. You can’t buy success and toughness. You’ve got to work for that. I loved the way the guys approached it (this week). They were resilient and I love it. I felt like we were more physical the whole game."

The Rams next have a bye week before playing Venice High (1-2) at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 29 on the road. The Cougars next play Space Coast High (0-4) at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 22 on the road.