Riverton earns 54-20 victory to advance

After watching defensive backs Matt Tyree and Shiloh Murphy bat the ball repeatedly in the air, defensive end Chase Williams decided to show the two how to complete an interception.
Williams, all of 6-foot-2 and 315 pounds, jumped over both Tyree and Murphy to secure a second quarter pick — the first of three takeaways by the Riverton defense — as the Rams earned a 54-20 victory over Central Heights in the Kansas Class 3A playoffs Saturday afternoon at Wyatt P. Laughlin Field.
The victory sends the Rams (11-0) into Friday’s quarterfinals.
Riverton’s defense had three takeaways, interceptions by Williams and Brad Hefley, and a fumble recovery by Casye Seifert, and the Rams offense converted into 22 points.
“I thought (Central Heights) was a very good running team, so we knew we were going to have to do some things to limit their run, and they did get some good plays on us with some traps,” Riverton head coach Cory White said. “Overall, it was a good effort. I thought out guys did a good job of being in position to make some plays; we do have some team speed and were able to get some guys flowing to the ball.
“We wanted to get them in second or third and long, and make it where they had to throw the ball.”
Central Heights (capping a 7-4 season) scored on its second possession of the game — a one-yard keeper by quarterback Jordan Welch — and did not score again until 2:36 left in the third quarter when the Rams had built a 32-13 lead.
The Vikings punted on three of its five first-half possessions, but it was Williams’ athletic interception in front of the Riverton sideline that sparked the Rams.
“I just was just heading down there to help block because I thought for sure one of them was going to catch it. Then I saw it pop up and I thought to myself, ‘Well, I’ll just catch it,” Williams said. “I thought our defense played well, especially against the inside run.”
Riverton senior tailback Brenton Cates set the tone for the offense, scoring the Rams first three touchdowns on runs of 56, 4 and 11 yards. Sophomore Shiloh Murphy added a 7-yard touchdown run six plays after Williams’ interception as Riverton built a 32-6 halftime lead.
On the third play of the fourth quarter, fullback Chase Mead broke a 12-yard touchdown run for a 40-13 lead before linebacker Brad Hefley celebrated a career-first.
The Vikings faced third down and 10 from their own 10 when Welch dropped back to pass and zipped a pass to his left.
Hefley, dropping back in zone coverage, had the pass thrown right to him and he returned it 17 yards for a touchdown.
“First interception of my career; have never had one before,” Hefley said. “My job was to take the tight end or the first receiver to the right of the line on my side. I just drifted off to my side and I noticed we were getting pressure on him and he threw right to me. After that, I just headed for the pylon.”
Hefley scored untouched for a 46-13 lead. The Riverton defense came up with a second-straight takeaway, a defensive tackle Casye Seifert recovered a fumble, and Murphy converted the turnover into his second touchdown breaking a 44-yard run wit 3:57 remaining.
Backup quarterback Skye Mills led Central Heights downfield for its final touchdown, a 2-yard completion to Ryan Rogers.
Rogers, a sophomore receiver, caught seven passes for 116 yards. The Vikings senior tailback Bob Wolfe rushed for 98 yards on 23 carries.
Cates, after torching Southeast for 219 yards Tuesday, totaled 186 yards rushing on 20 carries. He had 167 yards on 15 carries in the first half.
Junior fullback Matt Tyree added 81 yards on eight carries, Murphy had 51 total yards rushing on his two touchdown runs.

Central Heights at Riverton Stats 11-8-08
Riverton, 54-20
Kansas Class 3A Playoffs
At Wyatt P. Laughlin Field
Central Heights 6          0          7          7          —           20
Riverton           16        16        0          22        —          54
Riv — Brenton Cates 56 run (Kaleb Clark run), 10:25 1Q
Riv — Cates 4 run (Clark run), 5:01 1Q
CH — Welch 1 run (pass failed), 1:33 1Q
Riv — Cates 11 run (Clark run), 8:26 2Q
Riv — Shiloh Murphy 7 run (Cates run), 4:29 2Q
CH — Ryan Rogers 10 pass from Jordan Welch (Robert Kuiken kick), 2:36 2Q
Riv — Chase Mead 12 run (Cates run), 10:45 4Q
Riv — Brad Hefley 17 interception return (run failed), 10:16 4Q
Riv — Murphy 44 run (KeeShawn Walker run), 3:57 4Q
CH — Rogers 2 pass from Skye Mills (Kuiken kick), :13 4Q

Team Statistics
          CH       Riv
First downs      18        21
Rushes-yards    41-163 44-396
Passing yards    171      10
Passes  10-17-2           1-2-0
Return yards     11        42
Punts-avg.        3-32     1-42
Fumbles-lost     2-1       2-1
Penalties-yards 6-50     4-35

Individual Statistics
RUSHING – Central Heights, Wolfe 23-98, Welch 13-41, Vince Croci 3-24, team 2-0; Riverton, Cates 20-186, Matt Tyree 8-81, Clark 5-27, Chase Mead 4-26, Murphy 2-51, Hefley 2-18, Julian Hudson 1-7, KeeShawn Walker 1-1, team 1-(-1).
PASSING – Central Heights, Welch 5-10-2-95, Mills 5-7-0-76; Riverton, Clark 1-2-0-10.
RECEIVING – Central Heights, Rogers 7-116, Wolfe 2-46, Adam Horstick 1-9; Riverton, Mead 1-10.