Men's Soccer: Bluffton Can’t Solve Riddle, Gator Junior Midfielder Scores Twice in Win
Mar 10, 2026|Men's Soccer
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10 March 2026 | The Swamp | by Lawton Swann
The River Bluff Gators leaned on a big night from junior midfielder Jake Riddle to secure a hard-fought 2–1 victory over Bluffton Monday night.
Riddle accounted for both goals for River Bluff, delivering the decisive strike in the final ten minutes to seal the win for the Gators.
River Bluff opened the scoring in the 23rd minute when senior Wade Douroux launched a strong throw-in deep into the Bluffton penalty area. The ball bounced free in the box, where Riddle quickly pounced and drove a shot into the left side of the net, giving the Gators a 1–0 advantage they would carry into the break.
Bluffton equalized early in the second half when Osmar Martinez capitalized on a scramble in front of goal in the 44th minute after River Bluff failed to clear the ball from the box, leveling the match at 1–1.
The momentum of the match shifted dramatically in the second half when Bluffton senior Ethan Simpson was issued a red card, forcing the Bobcats to play down a man for the remainder of the contest. The advantage allowed River Bluff to control much of the final frame as the Gators pushed forward in search of a winner.
That breakthrough came in the 70th minute. Once again, Douroux helped spark the play drive and dish that found senior Alejandro Romero, who managed to get just a toe on the ball. The deflection kicked out to Riddle, who stepped into the opportunity and slammed home the go-ahead goal.
River Bluff generated plenty of offensive pressure throughout the night, finishing with 14 shots, but several strong saves by Bluffton’s goalkeeper kept the margin tight until the final whistle.
With the win, the Gators move to 5-1 and build momentum heading into a major matchup later this week. River Bluff will return home Friday night to host defending state champion J.L. Mann. The varsity girls will kick off the evening at 6:00 p.m., followed by the boys varsity match at 7:30 p.m. in what promises to be a marquee night of soccer.
Riddle accounted for both goals for River Bluff, delivering the decisive strike in the final ten minutes to seal the win for the Gators.
River Bluff opened the scoring in the 23rd minute when senior Wade Douroux launched a strong throw-in deep into the Bluffton penalty area. The ball bounced free in the box, where Riddle quickly pounced and drove a shot into the left side of the net, giving the Gators a 1–0 advantage they would carry into the break.
Bluffton equalized early in the second half when Osmar Martinez capitalized on a scramble in front of goal in the 44th minute after River Bluff failed to clear the ball from the box, leveling the match at 1–1.
The momentum of the match shifted dramatically in the second half when Bluffton senior Ethan Simpson was issued a red card, forcing the Bobcats to play down a man for the remainder of the contest. The advantage allowed River Bluff to control much of the final frame as the Gators pushed forward in search of a winner.
That breakthrough came in the 70th minute. Once again, Douroux helped spark the play drive and dish that found senior Alejandro Romero, who managed to get just a toe on the ball. The deflection kicked out to Riddle, who stepped into the opportunity and slammed home the go-ahead goal.
River Bluff generated plenty of offensive pressure throughout the night, finishing with 14 shots, but several strong saves by Bluffton’s goalkeeper kept the margin tight until the final whistle.
With the win, the Gators move to 5-1 and build momentum heading into a major matchup later this week. River Bluff will return home Friday night to host defending state champion J.L. Mann. The varsity girls will kick off the evening at 6:00 p.m., followed by the boys varsity match at 7:30 p.m. in what promises to be a marquee night of soccer.
(Photo by Jeff Scoggin)