Top Performers: Riverside Academy vs. West St. John
A pair of Louisiana’s top small-school programs located directly across the Mississippi River from one another provided one of the state’s top matchups in mid-November. Home-standing Riverside struck first with senior star Gage Larvadain Gage Larvadain 5'9" | 155 lbs…
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Continue ReadingA pair of Louisiana’s top small-school programs located directly across the Mississippi River from one another provided one of the state’s top matchups in mid-November.
Home-standing Riverside struck first with senior star Gage Larvadain Gage Larvadain 5'9" | 155 lbs | ATH Riverside Academy | 2021 State LA in the low-scoring battle.
But, with his playmaking ability sidelined and a pair of West St. John scores abruptly swinging the momentum, the Rebels appeared to be running out of time in the fourth quarter.
Instead, one of the game’s underclassman standouts provided back-to-back highlight reel efforts the fans in Reserve, La., won’t soon forget to rise to a 15-14 victory.
Here are a few of those key performances.
2021 Recruiting Class
Gage Larvadain Gage Larvadain 5'9" | 155 lbs | ATH Riverside Academy | 2021 State LA — 5-9, 155 ATH — Riverside
The Rebels’ undersized, but electric star was one of the biggest draws to this game before re-aggravating a hip injury and spending nearly the entire second half on the sideline despite his best efforts to convince his coaches otherwise. The senior showed some first-half flashes of the playmaking ability that has caused even some notable Class 5A coaches to call him the best player in the state, including his diving near-touchdown in the second quarter and subsequent run up the middle the next play to complete the job. And when he wasn’t allowed to make plays on the field later, he showed the positivity and leadership to continued encouraging and advising his teammates to pull out a the comeback victory.
Another glimpse of Gage Larvadain Gage Larvadain 5'9" | 155 lbs | ATH Riverside Academy | 2021 State LA in the return game.
West St. John keeps it contained. pic.twitter.com/818exQjlqu
— Jerit Roser (@JeritRoser) November 14, 2020
Nick Washington — 6-0, 240 DL — Riverside
A case could be made for a senior on the other side of the ball as the player of the game for Riverside. Washington, the big defensive end/linebacker lived in the West St. John backfield what felt like the majority of the contest with more than a handful of sacks and tackles for loss. He rushed outside, inside and through blockers, who rarely had answers for him and disrupted the Rams’ offense all night.
Robert Wells — 5-11, 240 DL — Riverside
Another senior was Washington’s partner-in-crime up front. Wells battled on the interior of the line, provided a couple tackles for loss and pressures of his own and followed just a step behind his teammate on a couple other plays to assist in the tackle.
Robert Wells with the third-down pressure for Riverside to force another West St. John punt. pic.twitter.com/5i3tMj1Kqt
— Jerit Roser (@JeritRoser) November 14, 2020
David Reynaud — 5-10, 150 DB — Riverside
Another senior defensive standout in the victory played on the back end of the unit, but made his impact felt all over the field. The safety helped patrol the secondary and keep plays in front of him, but was plenty comfortable playing closer to the line and working his way through the box to help provide support against a more run-heavy offense.
David Reynaud, the Riverside safety, containing this second-down run. pic.twitter.com/2otAN3Mxbz
— Jerit Roser (@JeritRoser) November 14, 2020
R’Khoby Robeson — 5-10, 230 ATH — West St. John
Robeson may have been the Rams’ most consistent weapon on the offensive side of the ball where he used his size to power for tough yards up the middle, but also enough speed to get to the outside on a couple plays for bigger gains. And the senior scored his team’s first touchdown. He also boomed one long punt after another in a special teams performance that loomed large for much of the night in a close contest.
Nice run by R’Khoby Robeson to start the West St. John drive before the half. pic.twitter.com/ob81Z3q6hr
— Jerit Roser (@JeritRoser) November 14, 2020
2022 Recruiting Class
Kailep Edwards — 6-2, 230 LB — West St. John
The Rams’ junior defensive star, already with a list of scholarship offers that includes Mississippi State, was as big a name as anyone in the contest. And he lived up to the billing. Edwards played more with his hand in the dirt as a sophomore, but has seen more opportunities at his more natural linebacker position this year. He continued to make several plays at or behind the line, including a pair of sacks, but also helped break up a couple passes in coverage to show that area of the game which he worked hard to continue building upon this offseason.
Riverside looking forward more before the half.
Kailep Edwards having none of it.
West St. John’s 2022 star with the sack. pic.twitter.com/S9AsqVOa75
— Jerit Roser (@JeritRoser) November 14, 2020
Jason August — 6-0, 250 DL — West St. John
Another Rams’ big man is one of the first teammates from Edwards’ mouth when he talks about his favorite players on the West St. John defense. August is a handful up front for opposing linemen. He made running up the middle a tall task most of the night as well as making a couple big tackles behind the line. And his work in the trenches is part of the reason coach Brandon Walters can continue to utilize Edwards at linebacker.
Jason August and Jakobe Lewis there for West St. John, and Kailep Edwards comes help shut it down. pic.twitter.com/KTHPrMaphw
— Jerit Roser (@JeritRoser) November 14, 2020
2023 Recruiting Class
Elijah Davis — 5-9, 170 RB — Riverside
The young Rebels’ running back would garner some votes for the player of the game, too, and rightfully so. “Bill,” as he’s nicknamed, helped complement Larvadain in the backfield in the first half, and then took on the bulk of the responsibility on the ground when his senior teammate exited. Davis was a consistent presence in the offensive attack, but saved his best for last with a tackle-breaking dash to the end zone in the final minutes to pull his team back within 14-13, then a field-reversing scramble back and forth to eventual beat a defender to the pylon for the game-winning two-point conversion.
Josh Ellis — 5-11, 190 DB — West St. John
The Rams’ sophomore played big all over the defense. He played well in coverage from his defensive back position and also helped contain Larvadain, Davis and company when they found their way to the perimeter. But he also came up strong in run support, exploded through a gap for a tackle-for-loss on a third-down blitz and recovered a fumble as a few of his highlights of the night.
JOSH ELLIS with a huge TFL on third.
West St. John will force a punt with the clock ticking under a minute and have another opportunity. pic.twitter.com/KDIws6Yyh0
— Jerit Roser (@JeritRoser) November 14, 2020
2024 Recruiting Class
Kylin Smith — 5-10, 155 DB — West St. John
Kylin Smith’s name was called as frequently as some of his predecessors on this list. But, when Riverside tried testing him right away, the freshman was there for a leaping interception that helped set the defensive tone. Considering his youth, he looks like a player worth keeping an eye on for the years to come.
First down for Riverside.
And Kylin Smith is there for the West St. John interception. pic.twitter.com/hbC5X0BJAl
— Jerit Roser (@JeritRoser) November 14, 2020