Skinner’s big fourth quarter propels Riverside over Woodmont, 37-26

Skinner (No. 8) rushed for 167 yards and two touchdowns, along with 83 yards receiving and another score to lead Riverside to a win. All three scores came in the fourth quarter.

Early into Riverside’s 2023 campaign, the Warriors seem to have found a fairly simple formula for success: when the going gets tough, get Mikkel Skinner going.

Whether he’s lined up out wide or in the backfield, Skinner has been one of the most dynamic offensive players in the state so far this season. He continued his brilliant run of form Friday against Woodmont.

Riverside’s wide receiver — and part-time running back — finished with 167 yards on the ground and two rushing touchdowns to go along with five receptions for 83 yards and another score.

Skinner’s efforts led Riverside to a 37-26 win over the Wildcats in the Warriors’ home opener.

“We’ve asked him to do a lot this season, but we really asked him to do a lot on Friday night,” said Riverside head coach Matt Rochester. “He’s a Swiss army knife for us. We can put him anywhere, and he’ll get it done.”

“That’s just me. I grew up playing running back, so running back will always be in my blood,” said Skinner.

With the Riverside offense stalling and the Warriors holding onto a slim 17-12 lead heading into the fourth quarter, Skinner took over. All three of his touchdowns came in the final frame, including an 85-yard touchdown rush to ice the game with just over a minute left to play.

“It got to a point after halftime where we just needed to score,” said Skinner. “The run game wasn’t going that good, so I had to come in from wide receiver and go play at running back and take over, help my team out.”

“He’s just kind of natural in the backfield,” said Rochester. “He’s a natural runner. He’s great in between the tackles, so we like giving him touches in there and seeing what he can do… sometimes I forget the kid is only a junior.”

Riverside also received another solid performance from quarterback Ty Breeze, who completed 18-of-25 passes for 202 yards and two touchdowns. Breeze is yet to replicate his six-touchdown performance from week 0 against Travelers Rest, but he’s done everything Rochester has asked of him and then some.

“For [Ty] to come out hot the way he did, it’s always hard when you set that bar really high to go back and match it,” said Rochester. “But he’s done well for us. It’s on us to do a little better at the beginning of games to where he can settle in a little bit and feel more comfortable.”

Sophomore receiver Jaiden “Speedy” Taylor played his own part in Friday’s win, solidifying himself as one of Breeze’s favorite targets. Taylor collected a team-high seven receptions for 70 yards and a touchdown.

“Speedy played really well,” said Riverside offensive coordinator Mario Cusano. “He’s going to be such a dog for us as he gets older.”

Now 2-1, the Warriors head into a matchup with reigning 1-A state champion Christ Church this Friday. The Cavaliers came into the Reservation last season and took down Riverside, 38-30. This year, the Warriors will look to return the favor.

They’ll have their hands full, especially attempting to contain standout Christ Church running back and Northwestern-commit Dashun Reeder.

“Playing tough teams helps us learn more about where we need to get better,” said Rochester. “I’m excited to test ourselves against Christ Church this week. They’ve got a lot of skill guys who can make plays, and obviously Reeder in the backfield. They’re a really well-coached team, and they’ll be ready to play on Friday night.”