Playoff positioning at stake when Rebels host Huskies

With upcoming games against Burlington and Meeteetse, the Riverside Rebels control their playoff destinies heading into the final two weeks of the regular season.

The Rebels won their third straight Friday night, easily dispatching Midwest 57-32. 

With the win, they improved to 3-1 in the Class 1A North, putting them squarely in the upper tier of the league along with the Huskies, Longhorns and Hulett.

In Midwest, the Rebels were on hand to see history in the making.

“It was an honor to be the opponent for the centennial celebration of the first night game in the United States,” said their coach, Matthew Jensen. “The halftime recreation of the original photo commemorating the event was a highlight. 

“The Oilers played with a lot of heart in this significant game for their school’s history.”

But the Rebels spoiled the party, building a 24-6 lead after one, extending it to 38-12 at the half and 50-12 after three en route to the convincing win.

Brendan Powell had a monster game, scoring four touchdowns with three coming on the ground. He rushed for 178 yards on 16 carries and caught a pass for a  42-yard score.

Corbyn Godfrey added another 101 rushing yards and a touchdown on 15 totes.

Through the air, Gavyn Cervantes connected on 8-of-12 throws for 128 yards and score. Mason Brown hauled in the passes for 34 yards.

Jensen said his team “ran the ball well,” averaging 7.8 yards per attempt and finishing with 300 as a team” and complemented it with an effective play-action passing game.

“Defensively, we played well as a team, rallying to the ball effectively,” Jensen said. “Several players stepped up to fill the gaps left by injured teammates. At this point in the season, depth is crucial, and it was encouraging to see others embrace larger roles.

The top performers on the defensive side were Godfrey, with five solo tackles, seven assisted tackles and a forced fumble; Zack Kuntz, with two solos, four assists, a sack and an interception return for a touchdown; Elias Jensen, three solos, four assists, one tackle for loss, one sack and one fumble recovery, and Cervantes, six assists, one solo, two forced fumbles and one interception that he returned for a touchdown.

Up next

With the Rebels’ biggest games of the season still to come, Jensen is looking for steady improvement, starting in practice.

“The margin for error shrinks as the playoffs approach,” he said. “We have to eliminate mistakes and play a clean game in all three phases (offense, defense and special teams).”

Up next, the Rebels host Burlington in a 6 p.m. game Friday. The No. 3-ranked Huskies are “the team to beat in the North,” Jensen said, adding that they’re “formidable” and well coached” with “significant big-game experience.

“Our players understand this game’s playoff seeding implications. Let’s pack the stands to support our team in this week’s important conference game. Go Rebels!”

The Rebels finish the regular season Thursday, Oct. 23 in Meeteetse.