TRIB TOTAL MEDIA • 91
PAYNE HOOVER
RIVERSIDE WILL RELY
ON RUNNING GAME
The Riverside Panthers shocked
the WPIAL last season when they
made a surprising run through the
Class 2A playoffs.
They started their playoff run by
defeating undefeated No. 3 Burgettstown,
42-35. They then took their
season one step further with a 41-27
win over McGuffey in the quarterfinals.
Riverside’s run came to an
end when it faced eventual WPIAL
champion and PIAA runner-up
Avonworth in the semifinals.
It was a special season that included
a six-game winning streak
and wins in eight of the final 10
games. After only losing five seniors
to graduation, the Panthers
could be in position to make another
one this year.
“Our whole line is back. All of
our backs are back. We just have
to fill a few holes,” coach Ron Sciarro
said. “One of those holes is
quarterback, and then we are just
hoping we play better defense because
we have a bunch of guys
back on defense. So, that’s the goal:
play defense and run the football.”
Replacing quarterback Ben
Hughes will be a difficult task as
he started for the past three seasons
and threw for 2,237 yards and
30 touchdowns last year.
It looks like the quarterback duties
at Riverside will stay in the
Hughes family as Sciarro expects
either Ben’s brother, Sam, or Ben’s
cousin, Calvin, to take over the
position this season.
Sam will be entering his sophomore
season, while Calvin will be
entering his senior season. Whoever
wins the quarterback battle will
have a lot of talent surrounding
him. The Panthers also expect to
take advantage of the experience
they gained last season.
“That was big, especially for our
(seniors),” senior lineman Payne
Hoover said. “It’s something we
have to get used to. Freshman year
we made the playoffs, sophomore
we lost in the first round, so to do
that, we have to set it up for our
senior year and go all the way and
set up a winning tradition for the
younger kids.”
After being a primarily runbased
offense for several years,
the Panthers switched their focus
to the pass last year, but that
change won’t last for long. In 2020,
Riverside’s ground game will lead
the way as they return their entire
offensive line and senior running
back Hunter Nulph, who rushed
for 1,311 yards and 12 touchdowns
last season.
Dante Phillips and Calvin
Hughes also saw time in the backfield
last year and will contribute
again. No matter who is in the
backfield, Hoover and the line are
ready to pave the way.
“We hit the weights hard during
quarantine and we have it on our
mind that we are going to run
the ball down your throat all four
quarters and you aren’t going to
stop us,” Hoover said.
Sciarro is looking for his team
to improve on the defensive side
as well.
The Panthers scored a Midwestern
Athletic Conference-high 34.5
points per game last season, but
they also allowed 27.3 points per
game, which was the second-highest
total behind winless Ellwood
City.
“We gave up too many yards and
too many points last season,” Sciarro
said. “So we have to get better.”
by GREG MACAFEE
Coach: Ron Sciarro
2019 record: 8-4, 4-3 in
Class 2A Midwestern Athletic
Conference
All-time record: 280-229-4
SCHEDULE
Date Opponent Time
9.11 Beaver Falls* 7
9.18 Freedom* 7
9.25 at Laurel* 7
10.2 Mohawk* 7
10.9 Neshannock* 7
10.16 at Ellwood City* 7
10.23 at New Brighton* 7
*CONFERENCE GAME
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Passing Ben Hughes*
109-171, 2,237 yards, 30 TDs
Receiving Nate Sciarro*
67-1,192 yards, 21 TDs
Rushing Hunter Nulph
189-1,311 yards, 12 TDs
*GRADUATED
FAST FACTS
• Coach Ron Sciarro’s grandson,
Nate Sciarro, was clutch
for Riverside last season as
he caught 67 passes for 1,192
yards and 21 touchdowns. He
also handled kicking duties
and converted 39 extra points
and four field goals.
• Although they will focus
on their running game, the
Panthers also have to replace
Nate Sciarro and Josh Bishop
at wide receiver, who combined
for 2,111 receiving yards
last season.
• Calvin Hughes ran for 345
yards and three touchdowns
last season.
• Riverside was one of two
teams in the WPIAL last year
to have a 2,000-yard passer,
a 1,000-yard rusher and a
1,000-yard receiver.
DANTE PHILLIPS
RIVERSIDE • MAC