I am back in circulation now but before I get to my report on Riverheads' Saturday trip to Tazewell, allow me to first comment on some unusual results from Friday night here in the area. Waynesboro knocked off Staunton 51-13 and Wilson used a big fourth quarter to rally past Spotswood 48-28, both on the road. Maybe the winning team wasn't surprising in either case but the margins probably were.
But the biggest surprise of all locally had to be Fort Defiance's stunning 17-16 win over Rockbridge County. The Indians appeared to be headed to a possible winless season but a game-winning field goal with only 39 seconds left changed that. With games still remaining against Staunton and all four of their county rivals, they have to now be confident that they can surprise someone else before the season is over. in the other Friday game involving a Shenandoah team, there was no surprise in Buffalo Gap's 54-0 rout of Bath County, also on the road.
Moving on to Saturday, Riverheads made the most of its longggg road trip to Tazewell as they easily handled the home team 56-19 in a game that was all about contrasting styles of play. The Gladiator ground game worked its usual magic, led by sophomore Cayden Cook Cash's second four-touchdown game of the season, whereas Tazewell filled the air with footballs, including a state record-tying 20 receptions by one receiver, Cassius Harris. Watching the game in person, I would have guessed he had more than that, as the Bulldogs were definitely a one-dimensional team.
If you dig statistics, the very nice article written by a Bristol reporter and re-printed by our local News Virginian, had Cook-Cash rushing for 222 yards on only 10 carries. That impressive total reflects the fact that two of his scores were from 52 and 87 yards out, the latter being a thing of beauty as he patiently waited for his blockers and holes to develop before turning on the jets to complete the score.
But Tazewell's passing attack had some gaudy numbers as well, as QB Carter Creasy went 30-44 for 311 yards and two scores, one to Harris and one to Jared Mullins. However there were two factors that kept the Dogs' attack from being even more effective. One is that they opted for a short passing game as probably 80% of their attempts were quick hitters out into the flat. They hardly ever tried to test the Gladiators with the deep ball. As a result they became more predictable and RHS was able to intercept Creasy four times, including three in the third quarter, two by Elias Hagy and a Pick Six by solid defensive end Ryan Farris. His 65 yard return was almost destined to happen due to Creasy constantly throwing to his side of the field.
The first half was all about the RHS running game. Even though Creasy was hitting Harris plenty, the Gladiators kept the home team off the board, although they needed a stop at the one-yard line and another at the 13 to accomplish that feat. Meanwhile CCC was doing his damage and the Big Red added rushing TDs by Aidan Miller and QB Bennett Dunlap. Cooper Robson was on his way to a perfect PAT night as the Gladiators took a comfortable 42-0 lead into the locker room.
Farris' untouched TD removed any doubt about the outcome early in the third as the Big Red appeared headed for a shutout as they were poised to take a 49-0 lead into the fourth quarter. But on the last play of the third, a Gladiator substitute back fumbled and Tazewells' Jacob Mullins rambled 65 yards with an easy scoop-and-score.
Although Riverheads' first string D successfully kept the Dogs out of the end zone, the passing attack finally clicked against the subs as Creasy completed his two TD passes in the fourth quarter. However, sandwiched between those scores was the final and by far most satisfying RHS score of the afternoon. Remember the name Shay Archie folks, because you will hear it plenty over the next two years.
The sophomore running back could probably start for some area teams and he just needs more game experience. He came in late in the game and had already had 3 or 4 carries for positive yardage. But on a very pretty play, he did his best CCC impersonation as he patiently waited for the holes to open, high-stepped through them, and then cut to his right and outraced the defense for a 53-yard TD, much to the delight of the respectable-sized RHS crowd that made the trip.
So the Gladiators' winning streak now sits at 41 straight, but after three grueling road trips, they now get a much-needed bye week before hitting the road twice more, to Buffalo Gap on October 8th, followed by a getting-more-interesting-all-the-time October 15th date with Wilson, where the Hornets are still undefeated as of the moment themselves.
To leave you with one final stat, the Gladiators are now averaging exactly 50 points a game at the halfway point of their season.
But the biggest surprise of all locally had to be Fort Defiance's stunning 17-16 win over Rockbridge County. The Indians appeared to be headed to a possible winless season but a game-winning field goal with only 39 seconds left changed that. With games still remaining against Staunton and all four of their county rivals, they have to now be confident that they can surprise someone else before the season is over. in the other Friday game involving a Shenandoah team, there was no surprise in Buffalo Gap's 54-0 rout of Bath County, also on the road.
Moving on to Saturday, Riverheads made the most of its longggg road trip to Tazewell as they easily handled the home team 56-19 in a game that was all about contrasting styles of play. The Gladiator ground game worked its usual magic, led by sophomore Cayden Cook Cash's second four-touchdown game of the season, whereas Tazewell filled the air with footballs, including a state record-tying 20 receptions by one receiver, Cassius Harris. Watching the game in person, I would have guessed he had more than that, as the Bulldogs were definitely a one-dimensional team.
If you dig statistics, the very nice article written by a Bristol reporter and re-printed by our local News Virginian, had Cook-Cash rushing for 222 yards on only 10 carries. That impressive total reflects the fact that two of his scores were from 52 and 87 yards out, the latter being a thing of beauty as he patiently waited for his blockers and holes to develop before turning on the jets to complete the score.
But Tazewell's passing attack had some gaudy numbers as well, as QB Carter Creasy went 30-44 for 311 yards and two scores, one to Harris and one to Jared Mullins. However there were two factors that kept the Dogs' attack from being even more effective. One is that they opted for a short passing game as probably 80% of their attempts were quick hitters out into the flat. They hardly ever tried to test the Gladiators with the deep ball. As a result they became more predictable and RHS was able to intercept Creasy four times, including three in the third quarter, two by Elias Hagy and a Pick Six by solid defensive end Ryan Farris. His 65 yard return was almost destined to happen due to Creasy constantly throwing to his side of the field.
The first half was all about the RHS running game. Even though Creasy was hitting Harris plenty, the Gladiators kept the home team off the board, although they needed a stop at the one-yard line and another at the 13 to accomplish that feat. Meanwhile CCC was doing his damage and the Big Red added rushing TDs by Aidan Miller and QB Bennett Dunlap. Cooper Robson was on his way to a perfect PAT night as the Gladiators took a comfortable 42-0 lead into the locker room.
Farris' untouched TD removed any doubt about the outcome early in the third as the Big Red appeared headed for a shutout as they were poised to take a 49-0 lead into the fourth quarter. But on the last play of the third, a Gladiator substitute back fumbled and Tazewells' Jacob Mullins rambled 65 yards with an easy scoop-and-score.
Although Riverheads' first string D successfully kept the Dogs out of the end zone, the passing attack finally clicked against the subs as Creasy completed his two TD passes in the fourth quarter. However, sandwiched between those scores was the final and by far most satisfying RHS score of the afternoon. Remember the name Shay Archie folks, because you will hear it plenty over the next two years.
The sophomore running back could probably start for some area teams and he just needs more game experience. He came in late in the game and had already had 3 or 4 carries for positive yardage. But on a very pretty play, he did his best CCC impersonation as he patiently waited for the holes to open, high-stepped through them, and then cut to his right and outraced the defense for a 53-yard TD, much to the delight of the respectable-sized RHS crowd that made the trip.
So the Gladiators' winning streak now sits at 41 straight, but after three grueling road trips, they now get a much-needed bye week before hitting the road twice more, to Buffalo Gap on October 8th, followed by a getting-more-interesting-all-the-time October 15th date with Wilson, where the Hornets are still undefeated as of the moment themselves.
To leave you with one final stat, the Gladiators are now averaging exactly 50 points a game at the halfway point of their season.
