In what was probably their best overall game of the season, the Gladiators controlled this one from start to finish. They scored three first-quarter touchdowns and by early in the third quarter, the running clock was in effect, at least briefly, as the lead ballooned to 41-0. Staunton then pushed across its two scores in quick succession to get the game back to "regular" timing, but the visiting Gladiators were never seriously challenged in this one.
On offense, RHS was led by the running back trio of Jackson Fitzgerald, Spencer Simpson, and Skyler Shiflett. All three consistently broke off big chunks of yardage all game long and each one scored at least once in the game. Fitzgerald in particular had great success getting to the outside as he had several nice sweeps for big gains. In addition to those runs, he booted six out of seven PATs and even added a closing field goal, something we don't see often at the JV level.
Even when they made a mistake (holding penalty) and found themselves facing 1st and 22, the Big Red said "No problem" and tossed a 25 yard pass and eventually scored on that drive. The homestanding Storm was clearly the bigger team and looked at first glance as if they could overpower the Gladiators but Riverheads just had too much speed and was more fundamentally sound in all facets of the game.
On defense, the Gladiators clogged up the middle and more often than not, diagnosed the play before it even got underway. In their most impressive defensive sequence of the game if not the year, the Gladiators hit the Storm with a surprise deep kick-off late in the first quarter that landed around the two-yard line. The receiver had no choice but to field it and the Gladiators gang-tackled him around the five. The defense then ramped up the pressure so completely that a frantic Storm punt a few seconds later went straight up into the air and Riverheads only needed to drive four yards to score its next TD.
Coming down the stretch with the score 41-0, Staunton finally reeled off a long run down the home sideline to get on the board. They missed the PAT, which momentarily kept the running clock in effect. But on the Gladiators' ensuing possession, they coughed up the ball and a Storm player found it for about a 15-yard scoop and score, as the home team fans were treated to two scores in about a 30 second time frame. But other than that brief period, this game was ALL Riverheads.
Both teams deserve credit for this being one of the cleanest and least controversial games you would ever hope to see. Each team played a sportsmanlike game and there was nothing even close to a dirty or cheap play that I saw. The referees were on top of the action for the most part, although we did have some interesting calls that you don't see very often, such as a chop block, a player lining up offside on a kick-off, and a call against the Gladiators for illegally pushing the runner forward on a scrum play. I did not quite understand that last one, because you see that sort of thing often, but the coaches did not seem to have any problem with the penalty, so we can assume it was a correct call for the situation.
With this win, the Gladiators are 4-1 overall and unbeaten against Shenandoah District squads. I am not aware that a "championship" is formally awarded on the JV level, but you can bet that the teams keep up with one another for bragging rights if nothing else. So with three more district games left against Buffalo Gap, Stuarts Draft, and Waynesboro, somebody will likely end up feeling as if they are "the best JV team" at the end of the season.
But for the next step in the process, fans on both sides will now get ready for Homecoming at Riverheads Friday night when the two varsity teams will clash. That one should be an interesting contrast in styles as it will match The Storm's wide-open offensive explosiveness against RHS' disciplined businesslike approach.
On offense, RHS was led by the running back trio of Jackson Fitzgerald, Spencer Simpson, and Skyler Shiflett. All three consistently broke off big chunks of yardage all game long and each one scored at least once in the game. Fitzgerald in particular had great success getting to the outside as he had several nice sweeps for big gains. In addition to those runs, he booted six out of seven PATs and even added a closing field goal, something we don't see often at the JV level.
Even when they made a mistake (holding penalty) and found themselves facing 1st and 22, the Big Red said "No problem" and tossed a 25 yard pass and eventually scored on that drive. The homestanding Storm was clearly the bigger team and looked at first glance as if they could overpower the Gladiators but Riverheads just had too much speed and was more fundamentally sound in all facets of the game.
On defense, the Gladiators clogged up the middle and more often than not, diagnosed the play before it even got underway. In their most impressive defensive sequence of the game if not the year, the Gladiators hit the Storm with a surprise deep kick-off late in the first quarter that landed around the two-yard line. The receiver had no choice but to field it and the Gladiators gang-tackled him around the five. The defense then ramped up the pressure so completely that a frantic Storm punt a few seconds later went straight up into the air and Riverheads only needed to drive four yards to score its next TD.
Coming down the stretch with the score 41-0, Staunton finally reeled off a long run down the home sideline to get on the board. They missed the PAT, which momentarily kept the running clock in effect. But on the Gladiators' ensuing possession, they coughed up the ball and a Storm player found it for about a 15-yard scoop and score, as the home team fans were treated to two scores in about a 30 second time frame. But other than that brief period, this game was ALL Riverheads.
Both teams deserve credit for this being one of the cleanest and least controversial games you would ever hope to see. Each team played a sportsmanlike game and there was nothing even close to a dirty or cheap play that I saw. The referees were on top of the action for the most part, although we did have some interesting calls that you don't see very often, such as a chop block, a player lining up offside on a kick-off, and a call against the Gladiators for illegally pushing the runner forward on a scrum play. I did not quite understand that last one, because you see that sort of thing often, but the coaches did not seem to have any problem with the penalty, so we can assume it was a correct call for the situation.
With this win, the Gladiators are 4-1 overall and unbeaten against Shenandoah District squads. I am not aware that a "championship" is formally awarded on the JV level, but you can bet that the teams keep up with one another for bragging rights if nothing else. So with three more district games left against Buffalo Gap, Stuarts Draft, and Waynesboro, somebody will likely end up feeling as if they are "the best JV team" at the end of the season.
But for the next step in the process, fans on both sides will now get ready for Homecoming at Riverheads Friday night when the two varsity teams will clash. That one should be an interesting contrast in styles as it will match The Storm's wide-open offensive explosiveness against RHS' disciplined businesslike approach.
