Top-ranked Riverton Parke topples Cloverdale for first sectional title since 2005

CLOVERDALE – Class A, No. 1 Riverton Parke rushed for nearly 400 yards to run away with a 49-21 victory Friday at Cloverdale to secure the program’s first sectional championship since 2005.

Cloverdale (8-4) fell behind 14-0 early but rallied for touchdowns on consecutive possessions to even the score.

It was all Panthers from there. The offense produced four straight rushing touchdowns to extend the lead to 28-14 by halftime and 42-14 just past the halfway point of the third quarter.

Vickter Shoopman carried the ball eight times in the third quarter and rolled up 129 yards and two touchdowns to seal the win for Riverton Parke – now 11-0.

The Panthers will host No. 3 North Daviess (12-0), who defeated Forest Park, 35-7, in a regional championship next week in Montezuma.

Cloverdale, making its third straight sectional championship game appearance, struggled early and allowed Riverton Parke’s Derek Collum two quick rushing touchdowns that nearly took the Clovers out of the game.

A quarterback sack and a self-inflicted penalty quickly stalled the Panthers’ third drive of the game and Cloverdale finally settled in.

Quarterback Marcus Boyd connected with Mason Mourning for 41-yard and 18-yard receptions – the second for a touchdown and the Clovers sprung to life.

Riverton Parke was forced to punt on its next possession, and the Cloverdale offense was quickly back on the field.

Ashton Evans broke free for a 29-yard run and Boyd finished the drive with a 9-yard scoring strike to Trey Schabel.

Just 82 seconds into the second quarter and the game was tied at 14-all.

Riverton Parke responded with a 65-yard scoring drive that ended with quarterback Brody McConnell scoring from three yards out.

After a 3-and-out by Cloverdale, McConnell marched the Panthers to the goalline and finished off the drive with his second rushing touchdown of the second quarter.

Shoopman started the second half with a 57-yard run and finished the drive three plays later with a 12-yard scamper to the end zone.

Cloverdale turned the ball over on downs on its first possession of the second half and Shoopman carried the ball three times on the next series and scored from three yards out to extend the lead to 42-14.

Jett Lesniak became the fourth Panther to score with a 1-yard run early in the fourth quarter that started the running clock.

Boyd, Cloverdale’s senior quarterback, raced into the end zone from six yards out to cap his career. He was 9-for-21 passing with two touchdowns and two interceptions.

McConnell only attempted two passes all game for Riverton Parke and completed both in the first half.