The Pearl River Rebels celebrated Homecoming Friday evening under nearly perfect weather conditions with an almost perfect performance and gained a 42-6 victory over the Riverdale Rebels of Metairie.

Pearl River remained undefeated at 6-0, 2-0 in District 9-4A. Junior running back James Gillum carried 18 times for 178 yards, 138 in the first half, and scored three touchdowns.

Jeremiah Levy complemented Gillum in the running game with 100 yards on just five carries. Levy tallied on a 65-yard touchdown run midway through the second quarter.

Pearl River'€™s Will Reed tries to outrun a Riverdale defender during Friday night'€™s District 9-4A game at PRHS. (Photo by James Elorriaga)

The Pearl River defense, which was stingy all evening, was led by Cory Jenkins’ two interceptions.

“That’s what we do, run the ball,” said Rebel coach Joe Harris. “We’ve got more than one back. We are deep at the running back position. You can never have enough backs.”

Things didn’t look so good at the outset. Riverdale began the game at their 25, and methodically moved downfield utilizing the running of Paul Wallace (6-3, 215). Wallace had carries of 16, 13 and seven yards on the drive. Quarterback Antoine Williams scrambled for another 18 yards.

Riverdale moved down to the Pearl River three, but an illegal procedure penalty moved them back five yards. Williams tried two fade passes into the end zone, but Will Reed broke up both attempts. Riverdale settled for a field goal attempt, which sailed wide right. After that, it was all Pearl River until the fourth quarter.

Pearl River’s ensuing possession began at their 20 and 11 plays later Gillum took the hand-off through the left side into the end zone on first-and-10 from the 12.

The drive was entirely on the ground, and gave the Rebels a 7-0 lead.

On third-and-six from the Riverdale 19, Reed, who played both ways, carried around the left side and was headed for pay dirt when he lost his footing at the 14. Reed also broke off runs of 10 and eight yards on the drive.

After taking over on their 47, Pearl River’s Levy carried around the right side for 12 yards. On the next play, Gillum broke through the middle for a 41-yard score and with 4:59 left in the first half, the Rebels had a 21-0 lead.

On their next possession, Gillum again went up the middle and broke free for a 32-yard touchdown with just a minute remaining before halftime.

After the Homecoming halftime festivities, and a first half in which Pearl River kept the ball on the ground exclusively, quarterback Matt Smith dropped back, scrambled to his left and hit Jacob Maxwell at the 35. Maxwell broke a tackle, and he was off to the end zone. Smith finished the game with one completion on one attempt for 60 yards and one touchdown.

Pearl River held Riverdale to yet another three-and-out, and took over after a punt at their 20-yard line. Again, Gillum, Levy and Reed ate up huge chunks of yardage. On third-and-three from the Riverdale 27, Gillum broke loose for 24 yards, and Reed ran for 15 on the next play. Levy picked up 11 two plays later, then on first-and-goal from the seven, Reed rolled around left end for Pearl River’s final score of the evening with four-and-a-half minutes left in the third quarter.

Riverdale finally ended their drought with the aid of a Pearl River fumble. The Metairie Rebels started on the Pearl River 24. Williams kept the Riverdale drive alive with a nine- yard scramble on third down, barely inching the ball past the chain.

Two plays later, Williams hit Terrell Goodwin for the score. The PAT was wide right, and the final score was 42-6.

Pearl River puts its undefeated record on the line this week taking on the Holy Cross Tigers at Joe Yenni Stadium in Metairie. In a change from the original schedule, the game will be played at 2 p.m. Saturday.