最新杏吧原创

The Riverview Gardens senior quarterback made that clear Saturday against Principia in the season opener for both teams as he led the host Rams to a 66-28 victory.

"We came into the game as the underdog, and we want to change the season," Pool said. "We knew we had an advantage against their (defensive line), so we used that advantage."

Pool and the Rams sent a loud message that this is not the same Riverview Gardens as last year.聽

Riverview Gardens won its opener for the first time since 2023. The 66 points are six more than the Rams scored last season as they posted a 1-8 record. Saturday was the first time the Rams' offense has scored more than 50 points since scoring 57 against Gateway STEM on Sept. 2, 2022.聽

The 66 points are the most points scored in a single game for the Rams since current East 最新杏吧原创 coach Darren Sunkett was patrolling the sidelines when they put up 90 on Normandy in 1999.

Pool found the end zone six times as he gobbled up 109 rushing yards on 14 carries. He completed four passes for 48 yards.聽

"Nate is a hell of an athlete," Riverview Gardens coach Leon McElrath III said. "He might be one of the top five athletes at the school. Nate really bought into playing quarterback and not getting down on himself. He took coaching, and it shows today."

Joining him on the rushing attack was junior running back Curtis Manley. While Pool was the lightning with his six touchdown strikes, Manley provided the thunder.聽

A 6-foot battering Ram, Manley carried the ball 14 times for 206 yards and two touchdowns.聽

"Our offensive line, they've been working," Manley said. "They've been building their game, trying to be better than they were last year. I'm really proud of our linemen. They really contributed a lot to what I did."

As a unit, Riverview Gardens rolled up 421 yards of offense, with 373 yards coming on the ground.聽

"We have a really good offensive line coach, John Johnson," McElrath said. "He does a heck of a job with the guys. They put a hat on a hat and let Curtis and Nate do the rest."

The Riverview Gardens defense blitzed and pressured the Panthers' offense throughout the game, only giving up 195 yards of offense.聽

"We knew coming in that they'd have a hard time blocking us," McElrath said. "We wanted to blitz and get their quarterback off their spot and sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't."聽

After securing their first win of the season in the first week, the message afterward among the team was, 'We're on to Week 2.'

Rivalry week against is next week for Riverview Gardens when it plays host to Normandy at 11 a.m. Sept. 5.聽

"We surpassed the bar already," McElrath said. "We want more for our coaches and the school."

Kingston Money is a walking highlight

He's known more for his basketball exploits, but after his performance on Saturday, Principia's Kingston Money may have a future on the gridiron.

"They have a hell of a kid in No. 7 (Kingston Money)," McElrath said. "That kid is 6-4 and does a great job high-pointing the ball and has great hand-eye coordination. Our guy was in great position, but there's nothing you can do on a perfectly thrown ball and a great catch."

Money scored twice Saturday, including a circus-like one-handed reception with a defender draped all over him in the first quarter.聽

He logged 121 receiving yards while collecting 11 tackles on defense.聽

"He's got some Division I basketball offers, and I think he's under the radar as a football player," Principia coach Maty Mauk said. "I look for him to have some schools coming after him for sure. It helps offensively when you have guys like that."

Principia was without key players coming into Saturday's contest, and Mauk said they should be cleared to play when the Panthers travel to Alton Marquette next week.聽

"We get four or five guys back next week and that will be big," Mauk said. "All of our goals are still out there, and we're excited about the opportunity coming up."