RMA not getting down after frustrating loss

By By Jeff Hart

Posted 6:12AM on Friday, October 3, 2003

GAINESVILLE - Unlike last year, one loss is not going to get the Riverside Military Academy football team down.

In 2002, after a 4-1 start, a loss to John Milledge Academy started the Eagles on a slid that would end with six straight losses to end the season.

This year, coach Doug Dixon says confidence is running high despite a tough 14-7 loss to Windsor Academy last week. There has been no sulking during practice this week as they prepare to play host to John Milledge Academy at Maginnis Field Friday night.

"I believe this team has a lot of confidence in itself and I definitely have a lot of confidence in them," Dixon said. "But we need to continue to work hard, take it one game at a time and if we concentrate on playing John Milledge, I think everything will be fine."

John Milledge Academy (3-3) lost to Mount de Sales 25-7 last week, a team Riverside (4-1) beat to open the season.

Dixon said the key this week will be slowing down a solid Trojans rushing attack.

"They do a lot of wing-T with some option and have a good fullback they pound up the middle with," Dixon said. "We'll have to stay at home on defense."

But Dixon also said his defense has been playing well all year. Justin Curry, Danny Robinson and Russ Allen have led a group that has allowed just 10 points a game.

"The guys have been playing very well on defense. We've only had a couple of breakdowns all year," Dixon said. "Last week, we just couldn't get the ball in the end zone. We were inside their 30 five times and inside the 40 seven times but only got the one score. That's what was frustrating about losing that game."

Quarterback David Elam and running backs Danny Robinson and Carl Robinson and receiver Chris Seymour lead an offense that was averaging 27.9 points a game until last week.

"If we just work on getting the ball into the end zone, I think we'll be fine," Dixon said. "But we need to get back on the winning track. That always makes people feel better."

One more win will give the Eagles more wins than all of last year.