EVADALE — Rivalry night returned to Evadale on Friday as the Rebels looked to rebound from a district-opening loss to Colmesneil while defending the River Bowl trophy against Deweyville. Both teams entered the District 12-2A Division II matchup looking for an important win. Evadale was coming off a loss to Colmesneil, while Deweyville had fallen 22-14 to West Sabine. The game carried added significance after Hull-Daisetta canceled the remainder of its season, making every remaining district contest even more important. Evadale entered the matchup holding a 5-4 advantage in the all-time rivalry series. The Rebels won the first four meetings beginning in 2016 before Deweyville broke through in 2020. The Pirates had controlled the rivalry in recent years before Evadale reclaimed the River Bowl trophy last season. Rebel Stadium was packed with fans from both schools despite rainy conditions. The weather eased for part of the first half, allowing Evadale’s offense to get into rhythm. Senior quarterback Brett Buckner connected with Gavin Maxfield on a 25-yard touchdown pass early in the second quarter. Deweyville, however, carried a 12-7 lead into halftime. The weather became a major factor from there. Halftime was extended because of lightning in the area, and play resumed briefly before another delay suspended the game again. The interruptions did not slow Evadale. Buckner scored on the ground for the Rebels’ second touchdown of the night, giving Evadale a 13-12 advantage. He then connected with Grant Stone on a 3-yard pass for the two-point conversion, extending the lead to 15-12. Buckner turned in a strong all-around performance, finishing with 109 passing yards and 132 rushing yards. He accounted for all three of Evadale’s touchdowns in the victory. The Rebels added another score and closed out a 23-12 win, successfully defending the River Bowl trophy and picking up a critical district victory. The win gave Evadale an important boost as District 12-2A Division II play moved deeper into the schedule. The Rebels will return to the road this week to face West Sabine. The Tigers entered this stretch of district play after defeating Deweyville, giving Evadale another important matchup as the Rebels continue their push through the district schedule.