Riverside preps for rivalry showdown with Troy

By Jacob Meikel

Riverside football is off to a superb start in 2024, and a win against its rival Troy on Friday would make its current win streak feel much sweeter.

“We’re just ready. We don’t want to lose again,” junior quarterback Beckam Griffin said. “They’re our rival, so practice is a lot better and just a rival week.”

The Trojans have gotten the better of Riverside the last two seasons, but the Cyclones are off to their best start to a season since 2020 are are currently riding a four-game win streak. The physical nature of the Cyclones, fueled by their ability to run the football and keep teams off the scoreboard, have allowed them to control games in the games they’ve won, especially ones that are close.

“Some of our tighter games, even though we haven’t played well. I think that playing physical takes a toll in the third and fourth quarters, when we generally have our better quarters,” head coach Bryce Paden said.

Junior wide receiver Ty’Zell Harrington is coming off of a monster game last Friday, and could be a huge factor if the Cyclones are able to get past Troy. Against Horton on Oct. 4, Harrington set a new school record for receiving yards in a single game with 153 yards on four catches. He also went for two touchdowns in that game. Harrington says he felt a good connection between him and his quarterback in that game last, and that his team is very disciplined at the moment.

“We’ve been doing our jobs, doing everything that we’re supposed to do. I just hope that we can keep that up,” Harrington said.