The River Rouge Panthers fought off a determined challenge from the Riverview Pirates, securing a hard-earned 20-14 victory on Friday to advance to the regional playoffs. In a game that was as close as it was intense, the Panthers used a balanced attack and key defensive stops to hold off the Pirates and clinch a spot in the next round of the postseason.
Riverview jumped out to an early lead in the first quarter when senior running back Nathan Pinkava capped a strong opening drive with a 7-yard touchdown run and a successful 2-point conversion, giving the Pirates an 8-0 advantage. However, River Rouge quickly responded, with running back Jakoby Cross powering in for a 1-yard touchdown and Jamauri Foster adding a 7-yard run of his own. The Panthers missed both extra points but still carried a 12-8 lead into halftime.
The third quarter saw River Rouge extend its advantage as quarterback McKale McDowell connected with Darryl Folks for a 10-yard touchdown pass, pushing the Panthers’ lead to 20-8. McDowell also contributed on the ground, rushing for 48 yards on 12 carries, in addition to his efficient passing (5 of 7 for 58 yards).
Riverview, trailing by two scores, wasn’t done yet. Pinkava, the driving force behind the Pirates’ offense, found the end zone again with a 1-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter to narrow the gap to 20-14. The Pirates’ defense did its best to keep the game within reach, but Riverview’s comeback hopes were dashed when a critical 4th-down pass attempt was broken up by the Panthers’ defense, sealing the win for River Rouge.
Pinkava finished with an impressive 127 rushing yards on 26 carries, including both of Riverview’s touchdowns. Brylon Orcher led the Riverview defense with 15 tackles, but it wasn’t enough to stop the Panthers when it mattered most.
With the win, River Rouge (6-4) advances to face powerhouse Detroit Martin Luther King (8-2) in the regional playoffs, while Riverview concludes a strong season with a 9-2 record.
Riverview definitely had some quality losses this year, but did they have a quality win? The playoff system worked. Years ago Rouge never gets in.. but the schedule they play showed they were playoff worthy.
Flat Rock, Trenton
Very well written article. Fair, balanced and honest.