By Jim Henry

Sports Editor

CHEROKEE, Kan. — Riverton’s rushing attack controlled the game from the outset, and the Rams rolled past Southeast 39-0 on Friday night in a Class 2A District 1 game at Southeast High School.

The Rams (5-1, 3-0 2A-1) retained a share of the district lead with St. Mary’s Colgan, which won at Neodesha 44-7.

Riverton’s linemen won the game on both sides of the ball.

The Rams totaled 301 yards on offense, including 271 on 46 rushing attempts.

Hunter Crowder and Leiam Tyree had 12 carries apiece for 91 and 85 yards, respectively, and combined for three touchdowns. Kaydn Allen and Carter Moreno added 44 and 37 yards, respectively, and Walter Terry hit 3-of-6 passes — all to Crowder — for 30 yards.

“It all starts up front, doesn’t it,” said Riverton coach Johnny Mallatt, who’s in his 50th year of coaching. “Our guards tonight on our buck sweep play, they did a great job for us.”

“I don’t want to gang up on any one (running back), trying to keep them healthy. We have kind of a stable of them this year. None of them are great big but good runners.”

The Rams’ defense limited the Lancers to 102 yards on 34 plays and came up with four takeaways — fumble recoveries by Allen and Zayne Shireman and two interceptions by Kyler Harper.

Southeast (3-3, 1-2) netted 70 yards on 19 rushes, and more than half of them came on Deric Mitchell’s 37-yard run on a fourthdown jet sweep in the fourth quarter.

Mitchell finished with 46 yards on two carries, and Nate Jacobs was 3-of-16 passing for 32 yards, including two to Cash Windsor for 24 yards. Jacobs also recovered a fumble.

Riverton scored on its first two possessions — both drives started in Southeast territory — and led 14-0 after 10 minutes. Tyree and Allen scored on short runs, and Allen set up his TD when he swiped the ball from receiver Cash Windsor after a 17yard completion.

Tyree and Moreno scored on short runs

Southeast’s Deric Mitchell (2) attempts to move the football down the field against Riverton at Southeast High School on Friday. SETH POTTER / MORNING SUN

---

in the second stanza as the lead grew to 26-0 at halftime as the Rams had 170 rushing and 181 total yards at the intermission.

Terry hit Hunter Crowder with an eight-yard pass and Moreno scored on a seven-yard run for the Rams’ third- quarter TDs.

“(Southeast) Coach (Nick) Cheney, I coached with him for 20 years at Baxter Springs,” Mallatt said. “He was our defensive coordinator. He’s a good man, good person. Those Southeast kids are playing hard, and he’s getting kids out. He’s doing a great job.”

The Lancers are on the road next Friday night at Neodesha.

Riverton 39, Southeast 0

Class 2A District 1

Riverton 14 12 13 0 Southeast 0 0 0 0

RIV—LEIAM TYREE 1 run (Tyree pass from Walker Terry)

RIV—KADYN ALLEN 1 run (run failed)

RIV—TYREE 2 run (pass failed)

RIV—CARTER MORENO 1 run (run failed)

RIV—HUNTER CROWDER 8 pass from Terry (kick failed)

RIV—MORENO 7 run (Chloe Parker kick)