Hendersonville’s 2020 season came to an end at Memorial Stadium as the Riverdale Warriors defeated the COMMANDOS 14-27. The teams battled to a 7-7 tie until a trick play just before the half would put RHS up 7-14 at halftime. Hendersonville’s mistakes throughout the game would prevent them from ever seizing the momentum as the Warriors would move on the class 6A playoffs.
Hendersonville would kick off to begin the game and the Warriors would march down the field on the Black & Gold defense before #9 Josh Ferguson would force a fumble that #5 Nevin DeGraaf would recover at the 1 yard line. The COMMANDOSoffense would start slow as well as they would be unable to gain a 1st down and HHS would call on #27 Andrew Martin to punt from his own endzone, after a good return, Riverdale would start their 2nd offensive series just 30 yards away from the endzone. They would take advantage of the field position and score with a 6 yard TD run to take a 7 point lead. #8 Brent Rowe would tie the game on the ensuing kickoff with an 85 yard TD return that made the score 7-7. HHS would force a 3 & out to get the ball back and then move down the field as #10 Ellis Ellis would get the COMMANDOS deep into RHS territory. An intentional grounding penalty would push HHS back and they would be forced to punt near the end of the 1st quarter. Hendersonville would force another punt after 3 plays, and then Hendersonville would again move the ball with 1st down runs by Rowe and #7 David Johnson. A 30 yard TD run by Rowe would be called back due to penalty and then HHS would fail to convert on a 4th down attempt. Riverdale would convert a 4th down of their own on their next possession before having to punt. With time running down in the 1st half, the COMMANDOS would go 3 & out. On the next Warriors possession, they would score on a 36 yard double pass with less than 30 seconds to go before halftime. HHS would have just one offensive play before the teams broke for halftime with HHS trailing 7-14.
On the opening drive of the 2nd half, Rowe would gain a 1st down before HHS would punt. Riverdale would return the punt after just 3 plays and the COMMANDOS would get moving. Three 1st down runs by Ellis would set HHS up with a 1st and goal inside the 5 yard line. A penalty on the COMMANDOS would push them back and they would end up missing a 37 yard field goal. After picking up a 1st down by penalty, the Warriors would convert three 3rd downs as they moved the ball on the COMMANDOSand eventually found the endzone with a 32 yard run making the score 7-21. #26 Steven Mack would answer as the COMMANDOS would return another kickoff for a touchdown, Mack would take this one 74 yards to make the score 14-21. Hendersonville would quickly force a 3 & out, but a penalty on the punt would keep the Warrior drive going and they would score with an 11 yard run to extend their lead. Ellis would block the PAT making the score 14-27. HHS would move the ball on their next drive as #12 Ryan Oden would find Ellis for a 1st down before Ellis would run for another 1st, but HHS would fail to convert on a 4th down. Riverdale got the ball and ran the clock out ending the COMMANDOS season. Hendersonville ends the season with an 8-4 record and a 2nd straight Region 4-6A Championship.
