Things got off to rocky start several weeks ago, but now that they have caught on to this winning thing, the Middle School and JV Squads at Riverheads kind of like it. Tonight for the third straight time they won both games in the same evening as they swept Fort Defiance on its own field. The Gladiator JVs haven't lost since their season-opening 14-12 loss at East Rock and the Middle School team lost its first game against Stuarts Draft, but has won every game since.
The Middle School game was by far the more exciting of the two tonight as The Fort (which is to say Stewart Middle School) took an 8-0 lead midway through the third quarter, only to see Riverheads score twice in the final seven minutes, including the game winner with just 15 ticks left on the clock, as the Gladiators stole a 14-8 win.
The game was scoreless at the half but after the Indians took the lead, Riverheads took its time and stretched its game-tying possession into the fourth quarter. Seventh-grade running back Kalvin Huffer, who has been the Big Red's go-to guy all season, was pretty much unstoppable in the second half. He scored at exactly the 7 minute mark and the two-point conversion tied the score at 8-8.
The Indians then went three and out, and a shanked punt put the Big Red right back in business around midfield. They then showed remarkable poise for such young players as they managed the clock perfectly, didn't panic, and pushed across the game winner with just 15 seconds left in the game.
In the JV game, RHS took almost eight minutes off the clock on their opening drive, before scoring on a Cason Croft run. The conversion failed but as it turned out that would not make any difference. The Gladiators scored a second TD in the second quarter and appeared to be headed to the locker room ahead 14-0. However, they helped the Junior Indians along as a penalty late in the half set up a nice TD pass to cut the lead to 14-6.
Riverheads scored an insurance TD midway through the fourth to go up 22-6, which I assume was the final score. I left around the three minute mark and the Gladiators had just intercepted a pass and were in kill-the-clock mode. So I assume they did not score or allow the Indians a chance to make it closer.
These double-headers have been successful at the gate but for Riverheads at least they are winding down. I believe the Big Red will do it one more time with Staunton on the 30th, and they also have JV only games with Rockbridge and Alleghany. I can't speak for the other schools but I suspect they each have other match-ups as well.
Now the attention turns to Greenville Friday night where the two varsity squads will tangle. That game will go a long way toward determining the success of each team's season, not to mention their playoff seedings.
The Middle School game was by far the more exciting of the two tonight as The Fort (which is to say Stewart Middle School) took an 8-0 lead midway through the third quarter, only to see Riverheads score twice in the final seven minutes, including the game winner with just 15 ticks left on the clock, as the Gladiators stole a 14-8 win.
The game was scoreless at the half but after the Indians took the lead, Riverheads took its time and stretched its game-tying possession into the fourth quarter. Seventh-grade running back Kalvin Huffer, who has been the Big Red's go-to guy all season, was pretty much unstoppable in the second half. He scored at exactly the 7 minute mark and the two-point conversion tied the score at 8-8.
The Indians then went three and out, and a shanked punt put the Big Red right back in business around midfield. They then showed remarkable poise for such young players as they managed the clock perfectly, didn't panic, and pushed across the game winner with just 15 seconds left in the game.
In the JV game, RHS took almost eight minutes off the clock on their opening drive, before scoring on a Cason Croft run. The conversion failed but as it turned out that would not make any difference. The Gladiators scored a second TD in the second quarter and appeared to be headed to the locker room ahead 14-0. However, they helped the Junior Indians along as a penalty late in the half set up a nice TD pass to cut the lead to 14-6.
Riverheads scored an insurance TD midway through the fourth to go up 22-6, which I assume was the final score. I left around the three minute mark and the Gladiators had just intercepted a pass and were in kill-the-clock mode. So I assume they did not score or allow the Indians a chance to make it closer.
These double-headers have been successful at the gate but for Riverheads at least they are winding down. I believe the Big Red will do it one more time with Staunton on the 30th, and they also have JV only games with Rockbridge and Alleghany. I can't speak for the other schools but I suspect they each have other match-ups as well.
Now the attention turns to Greenville Friday night where the two varsity squads will tangle. That game will go a long way toward determining the success of each team's season, not to mention their playoff seedings.