Riverside’s magical playoff run was thwarted Friday night, falling 41-14 to #2 seed Avonworth in the WPIAL Class 2A semifinal at West Allegheny Friday night.
The vastly underseeded Panthers knocked off #3 seed Burgettstown and #6 seed McGuffey to enter the contest as the first No. 14 seed to reach the WPIAL semifinals since Central Valley did it in 2010.
Riverside only trialed 13-0 at halftime, unable to capitalize on two possessions reaching inside the Antelopes 10 yard line. The Panthers were denied twice on fourth down from the Avonworth 2- and 4-yard lines.
Josh Bishop had two interceptions defensively and also caught a touchdown pass from quarterback Ben Hughes for Riverside. Hughes finished with 175 yards passing, one touchdown and two interception. One of the Antelopes interceptions as returned for a touchdown in the third quarter.
Jax Miller rushed for 250 yards and four touchdowns, including a 70-yard scamper, for the undefeated Antelopes.
Avonworth (13-0 overall) will play Washington (13-0 overall) for the Class 2A WPIAL championship next Saturday at Norwin High School. (VIEW FULL BRACKET)
For the departing seniors, they have led the Riverside football team to the WPIAL semi-finals in three of their last four years at the program. The Panthers last reached the semifinals in both 2016 and 2017, falling to Steel Valley both times.
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