Riverheads moved to 2-0 on the young season with a 55-14 win on the road at Parry McCluer behind three second-quarter touchdowns from senior running back Luke Bryant. The victory ties the state record for most consecutive wins (52) a record long held by powerhouse Phoebus, and next week when Lord Botetourt visits Greenville, the Gladiators will attempt to break that tie and move into first place all alone.
Although most Gladiator victories involve a heavy dose of Triple C, that was not the case tonight, although in the first quarter, we did get treated to an impressive performance by Double C, as in fullback Cody Cash. He pushed across the first two RHS touchdowns as the Big Red led 13-0 after one quarter.
As for Triple C, he only carried the ball a few times before being injured in the second quarter. It was not clear what happened, because it took place on the other side of the field, but he appeared to be nursing a shoulder. At any rate, he did not come back into the game. I would not even begin to speculate on the injury and what impact it might have on next week's game, but that will of course be a closely-followed story line this upcoming week.
In his absence, Bryant took on a larger role, as he scored the first two RHS touchdowns of a 28 point second quarter, both on the ground. But soon other running backs began to relieve him and Cash, and three of them (Cole Fletcher, David Austin, and Adam Higgins) eventually scored TDs. But the prettiest Gladiator score of the night came on their first TD pass of the season.
The Blues had just turned the ball over on a kick-off (more on that in a minute) and the Gladiators went for the jugular as QB Bennett Dunlap found Bryant just a step beyond the defender in the end zone for about a 35 yard score. Bryant had to really lay out for the catch and it took a second to get the signal but he hauled it in for his third score of the night and sixth of the season.
As for PM, it had been assumed that their stud running back John Snider would be the biggest test for the Riverheads defense, but they handled him easily and he was not much of a factor in the game. Not so much the case for number 6, whom I believe was named Cook. He was a lightning-quick little waterbug that kept the Big Red hopping for most of the second half. He scored the first PM touchdown on an 80 yard sweep right in which he got to the corner, turned on the jets, and simply outran the defense. I believe he scored PM's second TD as well. As they would say on the TV, he earned some more PT tonight.
Unlike Waynesboro last week, the Blues did not have much of a turnover problem tonight, at least not in the usual way. However, three HUGE mistakes in the kicking game led directly to Gladiator TDs. In the second quarter, with the Big Red already comfortably in front, the Blues botched consecutive pooch kicks and the visitors covered both of them and easily took them in for follow-up scores.
Then on the first series of the third quarter, a high snap sailed wayyy over the PM punter's head and by the time he was brought down, the Big Red was in business at the 12 yard line. Needless to say, that led to another score.
As for Riverheads' side of the kicking game, it was a tag team effort tonight, as Zach Brooks converted 7 out of 8 PATs, whereas Pedro Chavez handled the kickoffs and as just described, did a brilliant job of frustrating the PM receiving team. So it is safe to say that two weeks into the season, the two kickers each have a clearly defined role.
In other local action tonight, word on the street was that Stuarts Draft and Wilson each picked up wins but it sounds like Buffalo Gap took it on the chin up at Luray. Staunton and Fort Defiance had leads at times in their games, but I have not heard finals.
Be back here next week for results on the "Big One" when the Cavaliers come to town......meaning of course the Lord Botetourt variety!
Although most Gladiator victories involve a heavy dose of Triple C, that was not the case tonight, although in the first quarter, we did get treated to an impressive performance by Double C, as in fullback Cody Cash. He pushed across the first two RHS touchdowns as the Big Red led 13-0 after one quarter.
As for Triple C, he only carried the ball a few times before being injured in the second quarter. It was not clear what happened, because it took place on the other side of the field, but he appeared to be nursing a shoulder. At any rate, he did not come back into the game. I would not even begin to speculate on the injury and what impact it might have on next week's game, but that will of course be a closely-followed story line this upcoming week.
In his absence, Bryant took on a larger role, as he scored the first two RHS touchdowns of a 28 point second quarter, both on the ground. But soon other running backs began to relieve him and Cash, and three of them (Cole Fletcher, David Austin, and Adam Higgins) eventually scored TDs. But the prettiest Gladiator score of the night came on their first TD pass of the season.
The Blues had just turned the ball over on a kick-off (more on that in a minute) and the Gladiators went for the jugular as QB Bennett Dunlap found Bryant just a step beyond the defender in the end zone for about a 35 yard score. Bryant had to really lay out for the catch and it took a second to get the signal but he hauled it in for his third score of the night and sixth of the season.
As for PM, it had been assumed that their stud running back John Snider would be the biggest test for the Riverheads defense, but they handled him easily and he was not much of a factor in the game. Not so much the case for number 6, whom I believe was named Cook. He was a lightning-quick little waterbug that kept the Big Red hopping for most of the second half. He scored the first PM touchdown on an 80 yard sweep right in which he got to the corner, turned on the jets, and simply outran the defense. I believe he scored PM's second TD as well. As they would say on the TV, he earned some more PT tonight.
Unlike Waynesboro last week, the Blues did not have much of a turnover problem tonight, at least not in the usual way. However, three HUGE mistakes in the kicking game led directly to Gladiator TDs. In the second quarter, with the Big Red already comfortably in front, the Blues botched consecutive pooch kicks and the visitors covered both of them and easily took them in for follow-up scores.
Then on the first series of the third quarter, a high snap sailed wayyy over the PM punter's head and by the time he was brought down, the Big Red was in business at the 12 yard line. Needless to say, that led to another score.
As for Riverheads' side of the kicking game, it was a tag team effort tonight, as Zach Brooks converted 7 out of 8 PATs, whereas Pedro Chavez handled the kickoffs and as just described, did a brilliant job of frustrating the PM receiving team. So it is safe to say that two weeks into the season, the two kickers each have a clearly defined role.
In other local action tonight, word on the street was that Stuarts Draft and Wilson each picked up wins but it sounds like Buffalo Gap took it on the chin up at Luray. Staunton and Fort Defiance had leads at times in their games, but I have not heard finals.
Be back here next week for results on the "Big One" when the Cavaliers come to town......meaning of course the Lord Botetourt variety!
