Riverside overcame a 15-point second half deficit to rally back and upset #3 seed, and host Burgettstown 42-35 in overtime Friday night in WPIAL Class-AA opening round playoff action.
Riverside (7-3 overall) roared back with Ben Hughes tallying the game tying score and two-point conversion midway through the 4th quarter. After the teams exchanged unsuccessful possessions late, the game bled to overtime where the Panthers secured the upset.
Riverside went ahead for good on Nate Sciarro’s fourth touchdown of the game – an 11-yard catch from Hughes. The Panther defense responded and stuffed the Devils on their fourth and goal attempt to tie.
Hughes finished the game with 242 yards passing and three touchdowns while Sciarro collected over 100 yards on seven catches. The duo flipped the script in the third quarter with Hughes hauling in a 12 yard touchdown reception from Sciarro.
Hunter Nulph led Riverside on the ground with 107 yards on 29 carries. Wide receiver Josh Bishop also had a big game in the receiving department, finishing with six catches for 107 yards.
The Panthers trailed by two touchdowns three different times, including a 28-14 halftime, and later with a 15 point deficit. Burgettstown (9-1 overall) entered the game as Three Rivers Conference champion after collecting
their second consecutive undefeated regular season.
Big Upset!!! https://t.co/Ie2PWVeC9i
— WPIAL Football Zone 🏈 (@AJWPIAL) November 2, 2019
Riverside will next play 6-seed McGuffey (9-2 overall) in WPIAL quarterfinals next Friday, November 8 at 7:00pm.
Other Midwestern Conference victors on Friday included New Brighton over Apollo Ridge 35-21 and Neshannock over Serra Catholic 31-13. [VIEW FULL BRACKET]
It would be nice to note that Riverside receiver and cornerback Josh Bishop had a crucial 4th quarter interception which stopped a late drive by Burgettstown. He also had 7 receptions for 107 yards in the game, including a 40+ yard catch late in the 4th quarter, which set up what could have been the game winning field goal with 2 seconds left.