After a rough start to their 2025 homecoming game, the River Bluff Gators responded in a big way, putting 67 points on the board against the Cheraw Braves Friday night in The Swamp.

Before the first quarter was midway through, Cheraw had stunned the golden-domed Gators and the Homecoming crowd by turning two quick turnovers into nine points. 

River Bluff responded with 24 unanswered points in the first half, including two touchdown passes from Brayden Moore to Darius Carter and a big man score, when offensive lineman Alex Kirylo lined up in the backfield and punched it in. 

Gator kicker Liam Flynn added a 30-yard field goal. Braves kicker Daniel Rhodes finally got Cheraw back on the board with his second field goal, this one a 26-yarder as time expired in the half.

Much like the start of the game, River Bluff began the second half with a turnover. Nicholas Gordon intercepted Moore’s pass and ran it back for a touchdown to close the gap to within five points, 24-19.

But it was all Gators from that point on. 

The River Bluff defense, which held Cheraw to just 23 yards rushing and only 126 total offensive yards, tackled running back Jahkel Fields in the Braves’ own end zone for a safety. The Gator defense also caused five Cheraw turnovers in the game.

From there, River Bluff tacked on six more touchdowns, three in each of the final two quarters. 

The first was a Moore pass to Sam Minor. Then, Hayden Myers added a touchdown to his 219 total rushing yards. Josiah Robinson scored for the Gator defense on a 26-yard pick-six. Robinson had two interceptions on the night.

In the fourth quarter, River Bluff’s backup quarterback, Liush Trammell, scored on a one-yard run, and Noah Robinson finished the scoring onslaught with two touchdown carries.

River Bluff improved to 3-2 this season with the win. The team will be on a bye this week before opening region play next week at White Knoll.