Riverside Upsets Chardon 21-7, Ends Chardon’s 31-Game Winning Streak

Photo by David White

Behind junior quarterback Mikey Maloney’s 208 total yards and a stout run defense led by senior defensive lineman A.J. Adams, Riverside upset Chardon 21-7 and ended Chardon’s 31-game winning streak on Friday night in Painesville.

Chardon entered the game as 10-point favorites according to Drew Pasteur’s Fantastic 50 (fantastic50.net), but Riverside outgained Chardon 305-254 and looked like the better team from kickoff to the final blow of the whistle.

First Half

The first quarter started as a battle of defenses, as neither team scored in the first quarter. Chardon junior defensive end Austin Leszynski killed a Riverside drive with a 12-yard sack, while Riverside continually stuffed the running attack of Chardon quarterback Alex Henry.

Riverside’s Mikey Maloney got the scoring started with a 5-yard touchdown rush to cap a 8-play, 51-yard drive. Maloney had 68 rushing yards in the first half and showed impressive dual threat capabilities. Maloney was on his way to another first-half rushing touchdown on a 47-yard run but fumbled the ball at the Chardon 6.

Backed up deep in their own end, Alex Henry found junior wideout Andrew Bruce on a screen, and after breaking two tackles, bolted down the sideline all the way for a 98-yard touchdown to get Chardon on the board at 7-7.

Riverside did not lose composure, as Maloney found receiver Brady McKnight for a 23-yard touchdown on their own 7-play, 78-yard drive. McKnight lined up as a running back and ran past the Chardon linebackers on a passing route over the middle.

Second half

The Riverside Beavers dominated the second half. Chardon failed to score in the 2nd half and looked one-dimensional on offense, led by quarterback Alex Henry’s 25 rushes for 122 yards. Henry was a bulldozer who repeatedly would keep the ball on QB keepers, but the Hilltoppers offense did not have much else to offer the Beavers.

In the middle of the third quarter, Maloney found junior wide receiver Jake Elly for a 37-yard touchdown on a crossing route that Elly turned up the right sideline, finding the end zone.

The fourth quarter was much like the first, with Chardon struggling to move the ball. Riverside senior defensive back intercepted Henry on one of Chardon’s few deep pass attempts of the game in the middle of the 4th quarter, which sealed the deal for Riverside.

 

Next week, Chardon (3-1) hosts Mayfield, while Riverside hosts Madison.

 

Notable Stats

 

Mikey Maloney (Riverside): 12-19, 129 yards, 2 TD, 14 rushes, 79 yards, TD

Brady McKnight (Riverside): 5 catches, 60 yards, TD

Jason Mackey (Riverside): 15 rushes, 95 yards

Alex Henry (Chardon): 5-15, 119 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 25 rushes, 122 yards

Andrew Bruce (Chardon): 4 catches, 114 yards, TD

 

Scoring

 

1st Quarter

 

2nd Quarter

 

Riverside: Mikey Maloney, 5 run (kick good, 9:26)

Chardon: Andrew Bruce from Alex Henry, 98 pass (kick good, 4:28)

Riverside: Brady McKnight from Mikey Maloney, 23 pass (kick good, 1:32)

 

3rd Quarter

 

Riverside: Jake Elly from Mikey Maloney, 37 pass (kick good, 6:14)

 

4th Quarter