The River Pilots are closing the regular season in high fashion. In the process, the Pilots are hoping to snag a post-season berth.

The River Pilots pocketed their third straight triumph and fourth in five starts by stifling Buckeye Trail, 29-8, at Martin Flannery Field in Hannibal Friday, Oct. 21.

The Pilot Senior Night triumph improved River to 5-4. and will end the regular season against Frontier Friday night at Frontier Local.

River entered the contest sitting in the eighth and final playoff position in Division VI Region 23. The Pilots received a dose of good news this week as Glouster Trimble, situated one spot higher than River in the computer standings, was forced by the OHSAA to forfeit a contest.

That piece of good news was bolstered even more by Newark Catholic’s loss to Granville Friday night.

The Green Wave was a spot behind River, but could have picked up a truckload of points if they would have beaten the 7-1 Division III squad.

“We really needed a Newark Catholic loss tonight to help our playoff chances,” Flannery said. “We have a good shot of getting in now. I feel if we do make it, we can make some noise in Region 23.”

The Pilots held the Warriors to less than 100 total yards while also recording a pick-six and a safety. “We really did a nice job defensively,” added Flannery. “We controlled the line of scrimmage and played very aggressively.”

The first points of the contest came via a safety when talented sophomore Jordan Sapp tackled the Buckeye Trail punter in the end zone following an errant snap with 2:01 left in the opening quarter.

Following a Buckeye Trail punt early in the second quarter, The Pilots unleashed a quick-striking four-play scoring march, capped by Sapp’s 18-yard run at the 10:06 lighting. The kick failed, leaving the hosts holding an 8-0 advantage.

River pushed across another score late in the first half when quarterback Cody Caldwell scampered in from 13 yards out. Colton Wright added the PAT that upped the Pilots lead to 15-0.

The swarming Pilot defense delivered the next score as senior linebacker Austin McConn swiped a Trail aerial and raced 49-yards to paydirt with 2:28 left in the third period. Wright again split the uprights for a 22-0 lead.

After a 55-yard pitch and catch from Caldwell to Nick Asturi, the Pilots tacked on its final score when Jonathan Stewart tallied a TD from one-yard out. Wright, converted the point after for a 29-0 Pilot advantage.

Trail averted the shutout with a one-yard run with 3:18 left in the contest and they converted the conversion attempt for a 29-8 final.

Caldwell led all River rushers with 49 stripes on the ground, while Sapp added 34-yards. Stewart and McConn each netted 11-yards. Caldwell connected with Asturi on three occasions for 92-yards, while Kameron Brown accounted for 40-yards and McConn, 16-yards threw the air.

“Defensively, we are playing very well right now. We lost a couple of games hat we should have won and hopefully that doesn’t come back to bite us,” continued Flannery. “We want to extend this season as long as we can.”