Lake City- The playoffs begin tonight and we kickoff our tale of the tape, previewing each Northeast Florida playoff team and opponent. Take a look each great matchup between two these well coached teams, and the break down at several positions.
RPI Rankings
- Pine Forest-0.661
- Mosley- 0.643
- Gainesville- 0.617
- Columbia- 0.578
- Riverside-0.659
- Lincoln-0.648
- Gulf Breeze-0.587
- Rickards 0.602
#5 Riverside (9-1) vs #4 Columbia (6-4)
Head Coaches:
Riverside: O.J Small
Columbia: Demetric Jackson
Quarterbacks:
Riverside: Daniel Plummer III: Riverside has used both quarterbacks this year in different situations utilizing their strengths. Their long time starter and leader Cale Zarah has passed for 423 yards and 10 touchdowns, while rushing for 2 TDs. The new comer to the team this year is Daniel Plummer III, who has passed for 1,140 yards and 14 touchdowns. Plummer has given the Generals offense something new that in year’s past they have not had. Down field passing ability which utilizes their numerous offensive weapons.
Columbia: Kade Jackson has passed for 966 yards, r TDs and 3 INTs. The senior was instrumental in guiding the team to early season success with his ability to distribute the ball to his weapons and play makers. After getting hurt in the Riverside game on 10/8/21, Jackson hasn’t returned to action. If he can’t go tonight it will be freshman Evan Umstead leading the team. He’s passed for 494 yards, 8 TDs and 4 INTs on the year. He’s shown the ability to make plays for his team
Running backs:
Columbia: The Columbia running game is spearheaded by junior Tony Fulton. Fulton has run for 337 yards, 3TDs on the season. It’s a unit that uses many different athletes to get the job done.
Riverside: Alvin Gibson The Riverside backfield is led by senior Alvin Gibson who has run for 901 yards and 16 touchdowns. Gibson is lightning quick and can take it the distance, as he’s shown already with an 80-yard touchdown run this year. Gibson has also racked up 166 yards receiving and scored a touchdown as well. Senior Dayon Rawls has also run hard when given the opportunity, rushing for 332 yards and 2 touchdowns. This backfield is all about big plays.
Wide Receivers:
Riverside: Freddie Manning- It’s another impressive year for Manning as he’s right on pace for his production. Last year at Ribault, he averaged 15 yards per catch and this year is averaging the same at Riverside. He leads them with 506 yards and 5 TDs. He’s joined by an arsenal of receiving weapons including Rickie Shaw (261 yards, 5 TDs), and Ronald Coleman (4TDs). Jaheim Singletary has also come on the offensive side of the ball and caught 3TDs on 205 yards receiving.
Columbia: 3-star Cincinnati commit Marcus Peterson has had some incredible plays and catches this year. The focus of double teams has made the ball go elsewhere and teammate Jace Hoskey has stepped up. Hoskey leads the team with 355 yards receiving and 3 TDs. Junior Tray Tolliver has been the most dynamic player on offense and defense this year for Columbia. However, the talented wide receiver/corner is out for the season, after injuring his knee in late in the regular season.
Defense:
Columbia: The Tiger defense is led by corner Amare Ferrell a 3-star long corner who is big and physical. Jaden Robinson is a talented 4-star linebacker who is one of the leading tacklers on the team. Both are juniors and lack extensive playoff experience but are immensely talented. The unit will miss Tolliver without question. The last meeting, Tolliver made several big plays in the game versus Riverside. He’s a difference maker on defense that will be missed. They hope that other players can step up as it seems Columbia always has. Look for senior Jerome Fulton to step up and lead the unit.
Riverside: “Linebacker U” is what people call Riverside’s exceptional core of backers. It starts with seniors Devin Smith (6’2, 220) and Bryce Capers (6’3, 210) who have tallied 39 tackles a piece for the unit. Both are tall, with long wing spans that makes it incredibly hard for ball carriers to escape. One of the best pure linebackers in the area is Gregory Washington Jr. He returned from injury last year suffered while playing with Baldwin, to help champion a Riverside defense that has held six opponents under 10 points this year. De’Avery Weeks is the the biggest on the line and he’s always applying pressure up the middle. He along with Masiah Wells are constantly in opponent’s back field every game. Wells leads the team in tackles (50). With Lawrence Neloms added in the group, without question they are the best defensive line in the area. Finally, 5-star Jaheim Singletary has captain this unit since his freshman year and is once again locking down receivers. The outstanding athlete leads Riverside with 3 interceptions, even though he’s not challenged much in games. The Generals have 11 total interceptions on the season, thanks in part to defensive backs Tavales Thomas (2) who is a junior, and senior Joseph Morrison (2). They are all ball hawks in blue.
Outlook: This is not the first round matchup that either team wanted, but there was no was around it. The absence of Tolliver is big and will definitely factor into play for Columbia. Riverside is not intimated by the jungle in Lake City, and will be looking for revenge from the second half melt down against Columbia last game. It will fall on Peterson to make big plays for Columbia, while Riverside can lean on its big offensive line led by Derrell Johnson (Wake Forest Commit) to take over the game.
