Freshman #24 Javontae Chambers gets his second interception of the game against St. Maries.
Photos by: Campea Photography
This was no ordinary opener this year, with many families being affected by the Oregon Road Fire. In order for players to be eligible to participate in the first game, they had to have 12 practices. Reportedly, ten Riverside players were deemed ineligible because they had to miss practice to protect their homes from the fire.
Late Friday afternoon, only hours before kickoff, the Governor’s Office stepped in and granted permission for those players to play. The Riverside Rams opened their 2023 football season on September 1st against St. Maries, Idaho.
Riverside’s first play from scrimmage was a 40-yard Jake Gaffaney pass to Tyler Lenz. Gaffaney would run it in for the touchdown(TD) a few plays later. The next offensive series for the Rams led to another TD, this time a 16-yard run by Lenz. The Rams would tack on another Gaffaney TD run to end the first quarter and the half up 21-0.
In the fourth quarter, with the Rams up 28-0, Tristan Davis would intercept St. Maries and returned it 75-yards for the TD. St. Maries would score late in the fourth to make the final score 35-8. Freshman Javontae Chambers had two interceptions for the Rams.
- Passing: Gaffaney 10/17 104yds
- Rushing: Gaffaney 111yds 3 TD, Lenz 40yds 1 TD
- Receiving: Lenz 2 rec 46yds, Campea 3 rec 29yds
- Tackles: Davis 14, Welch 5 (2 TFL), Jenkinson 4 (2 TFL)
#13 Jake Gaffaney looks for an open receiver. Gaffaney had 104 yards passing against St. Maries.
#3 Tyler Lenz returns a punt for 24 yards against St. Maries.
#2 Braxton Welch rushes against St. Maries.
