The Tallulah Academy Trojans and the Riverdale Academy Rebels traded scores, and the lead, all night Thursday during TA's 2020 homecoming game at R.A."Racer" Holstead Memorial Stadium.
The Trojans jumped out to an early lead after recovering an onside kick to start the game. Taking full advantage of the recovery, TA scored from its first play from scrimmage off a long run from Carter Sullivan, and tacked on the 2-point conversion with a short pass from Dee Morgan to Marsh Wood to put the Trojans up 8-0 only seconds into the contest. Riverdale would find its way into the end zone in the first quarter, but a failed 2-point conversion left the Trojans with a 2-point, 8-6 lead after a quarter of play. The Rebels would find the end zone once more in the first half and the Trojans trailed 12-8 heading into the halftime break.
TA found a way to take back the lead early in the second half, as Morgan once again found Wood in the end zone through the air. A 2-point conversion on the ground from Walker Sullivan gave the Trojans a 16-12 advantage with more than five minutes left in the third period.
But Riverdale would answer with its own aerial attack early in the fourth quarter, giving the Rebels a 20-16 lead. With just over seven minutes left to play, TA's Paul Michael Machen broke free for a long touchdown run to put the Trojans back on top 22-20, but an interception by the Rebels and a late-game score would prove too much for the Trojans to overcome, as TA fell 26-22.
The loss leaves the Trojans at 4-3 on the season, a record they will try to keep from hitting .500 next week on the road versus Tensas.
For the complete story on Thursday's game, pick up a copy of the Thurs., Oct. 15 edition of the Madison Journal.
