Riverdale's Michael Scruggs (25) runs the ball down the field as Ooltewah's Gene Myers (30) tries to stop him during the Middle Tennessee Football Classic Game #1, on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2016.MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Storms in the area were the least of the Ooltewah football team's problems during the first half of Saturday's contest against Riverdale in the Middle Tennessee Football Classic at Middle Tennessee State University.
The Owls were victimized by a blocked punt returned for a touchdown, a punt return for another score and three interceptions in the first half in a 47-14 season-opening loss to the Warriors.
"That was definitely the difference early," Ooltewah coach Mac Bryan said of the special-teams mistakes. "We gave up long returns, the punt return and had the punt blocked. If we don't make those mistakes, it's a different game at halftime. But they're a great team and made some big plays."
The game endured a 30-minute weather delay during the first quarter.
Riverdale blocked a punt on Ooltewah's first possession and Clay Scothern returned it 27 yards for a touchdown. Warriors quarterback Christian Souffrant scored on a 10-yard keeper to make it 14-0, and Georgia Tech commitment Gentry Bonds' 55-yard punt return for a touchdown pushed the advantage to 21-0 early in the second period.
Ooltewah quarterback Collin Thurman was then picked off on three consecutive possessions - twice by Marqwell Odom - as Riverdale took a 34-0 lead into halftime.
There was a running clock on a couple of occasions in the second half as Riverdale built a 41-0 lead until Ooltewah finally cracked the scoreboard on Cameron Turner's 2-yard TD run with 1:58 remaining in the third quarter.
Tylan Cargle added a 1-yard TD run for the Owls late.
"We couldn't get anything going on offense," Bryan said. "We missed some tackles, but I didn't think we made some plays (on defense)."