By Adam Hawthorne, Staff Writer
The River Hill football team brought energy and emotion as the Hawks had their senior night against Marriotts Ridge in one of the most anticipated games of the season. Last Friday the team and fans not only celebrated the seniors, but also continued the Hawk’s five game winning streak with an impressive 35-6 win. The atmosphere was absolutely electric and excitement filled the stadium the entire night.
Senior Night has always been important at our school, as it is a time to recognize the seniors who have dedicated years to their sports program. To make this game even more special for the team, Marriotts Ridge ended River Hill’s playoff run last season, and the team has been waiting for a chance to get their redemption.
Senior Anthony Sargies shared what the night meant to the entire program and his gratitude for his teammates. “The night felt like a blessing, being out there with my brothers and getting revenge for last year’s losses against Ridge on senior night. It wasn’t just for us and the coaches, but also for last year’s seniors who had their season cut short.”
The team showed their motivation from the kickoff. The Hawks came out aggressive on both sides of the ball, quickly gaining control of the game. The offense moved strongly down the field, with many big runs and strong blocking from the offensive line. River Hill’s defense also made an impact early, causing turnovers and shutting down Marriotts Ridge’s passing game before they could gain any momentum. Every play demonstrated incredible teamwork and remarkable discipline.
Senior Mayowa Akinjugbe reflected on how meaningful this win was for the team. “The senior night game was very memorable, it felt really good to get back at Marriotts and add to our four game win streak.”
“Glad we got to play Ridge for our senior night game because they ended our season last year,” said senior Dominic Wheeler. “After starting the year 0–3 I’m proud of our team for winning 5 straight.”
Junior Nidh Amrutham credited the coaching staff for keeping the players focused and ready. “Coach Van really got us prepared for this game and set us up to be successful,” he said. “Ridge knocked us out of the playoffs last year and beat us twice, so it felt like we got revenge for that.”
For many seniors, this game was more than just another win, it was a night to remember. “It was a weird experience,” said senior David Carr. “In the past, senior night has just been another game, but this year it actually had a bigger meaning. All the seniors were hyped up for it and I think it showed. We’re gonna continue to get better and keep our momentum going into this week and playoffs.”
The 35–6 victory over Marriotts Ridge not only secured a fifth consecutive win but it also added to the momentum heading into their last game as well as playoffs. What began as a challenging season has turned into a very successful one.