#PRZTN Game of the Week: Blackman vs. Riverdale
Prep RedZone is back on the road and our game of the week pits two Murfreesboro, inner region rivals that are currently 2-0, against each other in what should be a heated but fun and entertaining contest.
Here we preview the Blaze and Warriors prior to their big game on Friday night.
Blackman (2-0) vs. Riverdale (2-0)
When: Friday, September 3rd
Where: Murfreesboro, TN (Blackman HS)
Follow @BlackmanFtball, @RHS_WarriorFB, @csmithscout
TV: @NFHSNetwork
Radio: @WGNSSports, 101.9 FM
Players to Know
Blackman Blaze
(Ath)
Jaylyn Pleasant
Jaylyn
Pleasant
5'11" | 175 lbs | ATH
Blackman | 2022
TN
- Pleasant is one of only a handful of seniors the Blaze depends on and he will be key in Blackman's pursuit in a victory over Riverdale. The two-way talent will be asked to provide big play ability on both sides of the ball, especially on offense where his speed and athleticism will be needed. If Pleasant has a big game, the Blaze have a good shot at winning and upsetting the road Warriors.
‘23 (QB)
Jack Risner
Jack
Risner
6'5" | 220 lbs | QB
Blackman | 2023
State
TN
- The Blaze have them a bonafide signal caller to ride with over the next few years but is Risner ready for the big moment? We will see on Friday night as he faces the toughest competition yet in a Warriors defense that is talented and loaded. Risner is a big guy with a big arm and the Blaze will need the junior to sling it around consistently all night if they are to beat Riverdale.
‘23 (TE)
Ben Marshall
Ben
Marshall
6'5" | 220 lbs | TE
Blackman | 2023
State
TN
- Possibly the prospect with the biggest upside on the Blackman team, Marshall is a tall, long and athletic pass catcher with great hands that has already established himself this season as a go to guy for his quarterback. The 6'5 rising junior is a mismatch problem for opposing defenses as he can play with his hand in the dirt or be spread out wide. Marshall is also a confident guy for his age that doesn't back down from competition. His play will be key for the Blaze on Friday night in their chances vs. Riverdale.
Riverdale Warriors
(RB)
Marcus Lloyd
Marcus
Lloyd
5'11" | 210 lbs | RB
Riverdale | 2022
TN
- The Warriors like to work with a balanced offense, maintaining the clock, allowing their defense to remain fresh and active. When the Warriors do this successfully, Lloyd is a big reason why. The senior power back is a load to handle for opposing defenses. He has a powerful lower body that continues to move forward, even when contacted but Lloyd is also a patient runner that can consistently give you three to five yards a pop. If Lloyd puts up close to or over a 100 yards rushing, Blackman will have a hard time staying in this game.
(LB)
Elijah Herring
Elijah
Herring
6'2" | 225 lbs | LB
Riverdale | 2022
State
TN
- The older Herring is one of the team's overall leaders and a stalwart in the middle of the Warriors defense that flys around everywhere, consistently making tackles. The Warriors team leans heavily on Herring for not just strong game play but leadership as well. He has been a starter for three years now and is one of the more consistent defenders we have in this state. The elder Herring will certainly be heard from on Friday night.
‘23 (DE)
Caleb Herring
Caleb
Herring
6'6" | 215 lbs | LB
Riverdale | 2023
State
TN
- Currently rated as the #1 in-state prospect for the 2023 class by #PRZTN, Herring is a force on the edge that the Blackman offensive staff and linemen must pay attention to and account for all night long. This 6'5 long and athletic pass rusher can cause damage and wreck the Blaze offense to where they are playing behind the sticks most of the night. If Herring goes off, the Warriors are leaving Blackman with a victory.
Key Matchups
1. Blackman's O-line vs. the Warriors Front Seven
- This is the biggest matchup of the night and probably the biggest area of the game within the game that could be the deciding factor on who wins. The Riverdale front seven is nasty and silly talented which means it will be a tall task for the Blaze offensive line trying to keep them in check. The O-line must give Risner and the Blaze passing game time to throw the ball or at least enough time to get it. They must also try to open some holes in the running game as well. A balanced offense will go a long way in Blackman's effort on offense but it's their passing attack that could cause fits if the O-line stands tall up front.
2. Risner vs. Riverale's Secondary
- If there is any point on the Riverdale defense that shows any weakness, it's their secondary. Now it won't be easy for Risner as the Warriors still have talent on the backend but it's an area on their defense where the Blaze quarterback can exploit and put up points. The key defender on the back end to watch is Warriors senior safety
Najai Watson
Najai
Watson
5'10" | 175 lbs | DB
Riverdale | 2022
State
TN
. If Risner can put up over 300 yards passing with high efficiency numbers, the Blaze will have a shot in the end to win this game but if the Warriors secondary locks down the passing game, it could be a long night for Blackman.
3. Riverdale (QB) Jameson Holcomb vs. the Blackman Front 7/Secondary
- The Warriors are happy with the early results from Holcomb but this region game could be his biggest test yet as the Blaze have some athletes spread throughout their secondary that could give him fits on Friday night. Holcomb is a dual threat guy that is still developing his passing game but has shown good work in that area so far this season. His poise and work in the passing game could be something that surprises the Blackman team and becomes the key factor towards walking away with a road win.
Scout's Take/Game Prediction
The new look Blaze under the guidance of head coach Chandler Tygard will receive their biggest test of the season on Friday night against a Riverdale team that has enough pieces to earn their way to Chattanooga, so if Blackman is to walk away with a win, it will certainly be earned.
Looking at this matchup on paper, Riverdale has too much talent for the Blaze to stay in this game but that's why the game is played on the field. Blackman doesn't have the horses that the Warriors do but they have some talent, especially on offense where the Blaze like to get up and down the field in a hurry.
Under Coach Tygard, the Blaze offense likes to move the ball through the air and that's the one area where the Riverdale defense might be the most vulnerable. So far through two games, the Warriors defense has not allowed a single point, so scoring on this Riverdale team will be quite the chore.
This will be the biggest key to the game and whether or not Blackman wins or even competes to win. They must somehow score the ball, back off the Riverdale defense and keep their team in the game till the end.
The Riverdale offense isn't overly explosive, so the Blaze defense has a good shot at keeping them bottled up while their offense figures out a way to score the football.
The crowd will be excited. Both teams will be excited. This is a region, Rutherford County matchup and rivalry that many will be jacked up to be a part of but by the end of the game, it will be the road Warriors who come away with the victory.
Score: Riverdale 34 Blackman 13
Jack
Risner
6'5" | 220 lbs | QB
Blackman | 2023
State
TN
- The Blaze have them a bonafide signal caller to ride with over the next few years but is Risner ready for the big moment? We will see on Friday night as he faces the toughest competition yet in a Warriors defense that is talented and loaded. Risner is a big guy with a big arm and the Blaze will need the junior to sling it around consistently all night if they are to beat Riverdale.
‘23 (TE)
Ben Marshall
Ben
Marshall
6'5" | 220 lbs | TE
Blackman | 2023
State
TN
- Possibly the prospect with the biggest upside on the Blackman team, Marshall is a tall, long and athletic pass catcher with great hands that has already established himself this season as a go to guy for his quarterback. The 6'5 rising junior is a mismatch problem for opposing defenses as he can play with his hand in the dirt or be spread out wide. Marshall is also a confident guy for his age that doesn't back down from competition. His play will be key for the Blaze on Friday night in their chances vs. Riverdale.
Riverdale Warriors
(RB)
Marcus Lloyd
Marcus
Lloyd
5'11" | 210 lbs | RB
Riverdale | 2022
TN
- The Warriors like to work with a balanced offense, maintaining the clock, allowing their defense to remain fresh and active. When the Warriors do this successfully, Lloyd is a big reason why. The senior power back is a load to handle for opposing defenses. He has a powerful lower body that continues to move forward, even when contacted but Lloyd is also a patient runner that can consistently give you three to five yards a pop. If Lloyd puts up close to or over a 100 yards rushing, Blackman will have a hard time staying in this game.
(LB)
Elijah Herring
Elijah
Herring
6'2" | 225 lbs | LB
Riverdale | 2022
State
TN
- The older Herring is one of the team's overall leaders and a stalwart in the middle of the Warriors defense that flys around everywhere, consistently making tackles. The Warriors team leans heavily on Herring for not just strong game play but leadership as well. He has been a starter for three years now and is one of the more consistent defenders we have in this state. The elder Herring will certainly be heard from on Friday night.
‘23 (DE)
Caleb Herring
Caleb
Herring
6'6" | 215 lbs | LB
Riverdale | 2023
State
TN
- Currently rated as the #1 in-state prospect for the 2023 class by #PRZTN, Herring is a force on the edge that the Blackman offensive staff and linemen must pay attention to and account for all night long. This 6'5 long and athletic pass rusher can cause damage and wreck the Blaze offense to where they are playing behind the sticks most of the night. If Herring goes off, the Warriors are leaving Blackman with a victory.
Key Matchups
1. Blackman's O-line vs. the Warriors Front Seven
- This is the biggest matchup of the night and probably the biggest area of the game within the game that could be the deciding factor on who wins. The Riverdale front seven is nasty and silly talented which means it will be a tall task for the Blaze offensive line trying to keep them in check. The O-line must give Risner and the Blaze passing game time to throw the ball or at least enough time to get it. They must also try to open some holes in the running game as well. A balanced offense will go a long way in Blackman's effort on offense but it's their passing attack that could cause fits if the O-line stands tall up front.
2. Risner vs. Riverale's Secondary
- If there is any point on the Riverdale defense that shows any weakness, it's their secondary. Now it won't be easy for Risner as the Warriors still have talent on the backend but it's an area on their defense where the Blaze quarterback can exploit and put up points. The key defender on the back end to watch is Warriors senior safety
Najai Watson
Najai
Watson
5'10" | 175 lbs | DB
Riverdale | 2022
State
TN
. If Risner can put up over 300 yards passing with high efficiency numbers, the Blaze will have a shot in the end to win this game but if the Warriors secondary locks down the passing game, it could be a long night for Blackman.
3. Riverdale (QB) Jameson Holcomb vs. the Blackman Front 7/Secondary
- The Warriors are happy with the early results from Holcomb but this region game could be his biggest test yet as the Blaze have some athletes spread throughout their secondary that could give him fits on Friday night. Holcomb is a dual threat guy that is still developing his passing game but has shown good work in that area so far this season. His poise and work in the passing game could be something that surprises the Blackman team and becomes the key factor towards walking away with a road win.
Scout's Take/Game Prediction
The new look Blaze under the guidance of head coach Chandler Tygard will receive their biggest test of the season on Friday night against a Riverdale team that has enough pieces to earn their way to Chattanooga, so if Blackman is to walk away with a win, it will certainly be earned.
Looking at this matchup on paper, Riverdale has too much talent for the Blaze to stay in this game but that's why the game is played on the field. Blackman doesn't have the horses that the Warriors do but they have some talent, especially on offense where the Blaze like to get up and down the field in a hurry.
Under Coach Tygard, the Blaze offense likes to move the ball through the air and that's the one area where the Riverdale defense might be the most vulnerable. So far through two games, the Warriors defense has not allowed a single point, so scoring on this Riverdale team will be quite the chore.
This will be the biggest key to the game and whether or not Blackman wins or even competes to win. They must somehow score the ball, back off the Riverdale defense and keep their team in the game till the end.
The Riverdale offense isn't overly explosive, so the Blaze defense has a good shot at keeping them bottled up while their offense figures out a way to score the football.
The crowd will be excited. Both teams will be excited. This is a region, Rutherford County matchup and rivalry that many will be jacked up to be a part of but by the end of the game, it will be the road Warriors who come away with the victory.
Score: Riverdale 34 Blackman 13
