In most circles the Gladiators were favored tonight, despite Lunenburg coming in with a sparkling 11-0 record. But it was soon apparent that RHS had played the tougher competition of the two as they took "charge" (pardon the pun) early and routed the visitors much more easily than anyone expected. RHS scored the first 42 points of the game before Central managed a couple of late TDs against the Gladiator reserves.
If there was one factor that determined the outcome more than any other, it would have to be field position. David Austin started the Big Red off with a nice kickoff return that put them in business at their own 43. That sort of set the tone for the entire game as just about every RHS possession started somewhere between the 40s. By contrast, Lunenburg started deep in its own end of the field on just about every drive and once had to begin from its own 4 yard line.
Following that opening kickoff, the Big Red moved straight down the field using its three-prong rushing attack of Cayden Cook-Cash, Cody Cash, and Luke Bryant. But when it came time to score, quarterback Bennett Dunlap sneaked it across from the one for an early 7-0 lead. Following a three and out, the Gladiators were right back in business, again starting around midfield after a Central punt. Dunlap eventually scored again, this time on a bootleg around the left side.
Although the Gladiators were dominating, the game was arguably still in doubt heading down to the final two minutes of the first half. That is because CCC and Bryant each lost a second quarter fumble deep in Charger territory as they were heading toward potential scores. However, Lunenburg had two turnovers as well in the period.
If there was a turning point in the game, it came at the 2 1/2 minute mark of that second quarter. The Big Red had received a punt around its own 35. The first play was a pass attempt that did not connect. Then came CCC's best run of the night as he got to the corner in front of the Central bench, and turned on the afterburners to score from 64 yards out. That score made it 21-0 at the break, quite different from what might have been only 14-0, with Central due to receive the second half kickoff.
However, the Chargers would do nothing with that first possession and the rest of the third quarter belonged to CCC and Bryant. Luke broke a couple of tough runs and scored twice in the period, whereas CCC added the final RHS score of the night when he capped off a short drive with a one-yard standing up run. Zac Brooks connected on all six PATs to round out the point total for RHS. So if you were counting, that was two scores each for Dunlap, Bryant and Cook-Cash, but hats off to Cody Cash as well for some VERY tough yards up the middle.
Coach Norcross could have lived without the two fumbles but at least they happened as the two runners were churning for extra yardage. The Gladiator takeaway total was three to the best of my recollection as they recovered a Central fumble and intercepted two passes.
As mentioned above, Central scored twice against the Gladiator reserves but they could not move the ball at all against the first string RHS defense. One of the local media sources had the total yardage at halftime in the 230s for RHS to less than 35 for Central. And for some reason, Central was yet another team that had trouble with the play clocks as they were flagged twice for delay, had to call a desperation time out to avoid another, and just plain got away with one on a fourth occasion.
Overall a solid win for the Big Red and now they will turn their attention to next Saturday and an already-announced 2:00 kickoff against what everyone assumes will be Essex. (They play King and Queen tomorrow.) By my calculations, RHS has now made the state semi-finals 12 times in the past 23 seasons. Prior to the first time (in 2000) they had not even won a playoff game at the regional level, as Patrick Hite's fine article this week reminded us. Although we cannot consider this current season part of the "Casto Years," RHS' success in the post season began under his guidance, and the influence and determination to come back every year were a trademark established during his tenure.
So all eyes turn now to Essex's game tomorrow and then the talk will begin about what to expect next Saturday. The Region C and D title games are also on tap for Saturday as Region B was the only one that played tonight. As we enjoyed tonight's victory, scores were coming in from other divisions, some of which were shocking, such as Central Woodstock's easy romp over Strasburg and Lord Botetourt's humbling loss to Christiansburg. But that is why they play the games.........
