Posted: Friday, October 30, 2009 10:11 pm

Blackman stopped Riverdale quarterback Cody West short on a two-point conversion try in overtime to post its first win in 10 tries, 14-13, on a rain-soaked Friday night at Tomahawk Stadium.

The win was timely, giving the Blaze the District 7AAA championship, their first ever, with a regular season record of 9-1. Riverdale, suffering its first district loss and suffering both its losses in overtime, finishes 8-2.

Both teams are guaranteed TSSAA playoff spots.

Martin Dietrich pounched on teammate Itavius Mathers’ fumble into the end zone in the first overtime for Blackman’s touchdown after a 7-7 regulation-time tie with Jason Puhr kicking the deciding PAT.

Two short runs and a Blackman penalty led to West scoring from the one to pull the Warriors within one.

Escuing a tie, Riverdale went for two with West racing right but brought down short by the swarming Blackman defense.

The weather, a heavy, sustained rain, played big role in the game with regulation play yielding only one score, Mathers’ 53-yard gallop midway through the first quarter shortly before the rain came with a vengance.

With neither team able to move the ball to any effect, Riverdale scored when the snap on a Blackman punt try went awry. Warrior Chris Mayes hunted the ball down in the Blackman end zone with 5:12 left in the second quarter for the last scoring until overtime.

Rain also played a big role in the only other area game last night as Siegel posted its first district win with a 7-6 decision at La Vergne in another game decided by the point after.

The TSSAA will announce playoff wild cards and pairings Saturday morning.

FINAL STANDINGS

DISTRICT 7AAA

Blackman (9-1) 4-1

Riverdale (8-2) 4-1

Oakland (8-2) 4-1

Smyrna (5-5) 2-3

Siegel (5-5) 1-4

La Vergne (3-7) 0-5