CLASS 1 CHAMPIONSHIP
RIVERHEADS (13-0)
vs. GALAX (11-2) 430PM- SALEM
Riverheads meets Galax once again and they hope to give the Gladiators some work in the big game. The Gladiators look to capture their 6th in row and they plan to do it being great on both sides of the ball! Coming off a solid defensive and offensive showcase in the first half, Riverheads had no trouble moving past Essex to secure their spot for the title.
The strong rushing attack led by Cayden Cook-Cash will need to go hard versus the Maroon Tide who would love to play spoilers for Riverheads on Saturday. Everyone knows who is the favorite and the pressure will be on for them to deliver versus a team with nothing to lose. Ian Ashworth will need to have a big game and do what over running qbs before him couldn't do versus the Gladiators and that was to come out victorious. Lord Botetourt and Essex quarterbacks had success running the football but neither had the consistency or the defensive help to stay in it.
Tedruhn Tucker will have to come up much bigger than last week in order to move the chains and keep the Gladiator offense on the sideline. Mason Cox will need to be aggressive going after the football and must become a reliable target versus a defense that can be vulnerable versus the deep ball. Essex Kamren Robinson gave the Gladiators trouble at times but not nearly enough to cause concern due to the point differential. Coach Shane Allen will have to make the right formula if he plans on taking stretching the defense out enough to move the ball consistently.
Riverheads does an excellent job creating turnovers and capitalizing off them and sometimes instantly. Cook-Cash literally took the ball from a ball carrier last week changing the moment and the game! The Maroon Tide doesn't usually have many turnovers and in fact they had none last week. It will take that type of ball security and mistake free football to have a chance against the defending champions.
MATCH UPS TO WATCH FOR:
Riley Jo Vaught of Galax versus Cayden Cook-Cash of Riverheads will be in the spotlight whenever Riverheads has the football. Look for Vaught to try to make it tough for the sophomore running back. If he can't then it will be a long evening for the Maroon Tide.
Landon Lightner of Riverheads versus Ian Ashworth could become a very big deal if Galax can slow the Gladiators offense enough to make it interesting. Lightner has excellent hands and great speed and really doesn't get called on enough but when he does it's usually for 6!
KEYS TO THE GAME
RIVERHEADS
- Establish the run early with Luke Bryant, Cole Burton, and Aiden Miller...by having success with these young men will ease the attention off Cook-Cash
- Take away Ashworth's run threat. Force Tucker and Reeves to head the rushing attack and if they can't deliver then the Gladiators offense will be on the field often.
- Throw when you want to throw and not when everyone is expecting it. Having Bennett Dunlap connect deep off play action will change how the Gladiators attack.
GALAX
- Make 3rd and short a priority. 3rd and long won't be your friend in this one and the more first downs made, the longer the Maroon Tide can stay in the game.
- Give Ashworth lanes and time to be great. If Ashworth gets enough time to connect with Cox or Ayden White to keep the clock running and move down the field.
- Slow down the Big Red Machine. The running game must slow down tremendously in order for Galax to have a shot past the first quarter.
Cole Burton is used to the endzone in Salem. Expect him to reunite with it Saturday.
BOTTOMLINE:
Galax will definitely be in this one early riding the wave of the crowd's enthusiasm and praises. Unfortunately, depth and size will be the advantage that will eventually come for the Maroon Tide. They have to own the time of possession battle and make enough 4th down stops to put any type of fear in Coach Robert Casto's heart. I don't believe they can do both, yet alone any one thing for long.
PREDICTION: Riverheads 44 Galax 14
6th on deck. It will take a perfect game to turn back what was predicted in August.
RIVERHEADS (13-0)
vs. GALAX (11-2) 430PM- SALEM
Riverheads meets Galax once again and they hope to give the Gladiators some work in the big game. The Gladiators look to capture their 6th in row and they plan to do it being great on both sides of the ball! Coming off a solid defensive and offensive showcase in the first half, Riverheads had no trouble moving past Essex to secure their spot for the title.
The strong rushing attack led by Cayden Cook-Cash will need to go hard versus the Maroon Tide who would love to play spoilers for Riverheads on Saturday. Everyone knows who is the favorite and the pressure will be on for them to deliver versus a team with nothing to lose. Ian Ashworth will need to have a big game and do what over running qbs before him couldn't do versus the Gladiators and that was to come out victorious. Lord Botetourt and Essex quarterbacks had success running the football but neither had the consistency or the defensive help to stay in it.
Tedruhn Tucker will have to come up much bigger than last week in order to move the chains and keep the Gladiator offense on the sideline. Mason Cox will need to be aggressive going after the football and must become a reliable target versus a defense that can be vulnerable versus the deep ball. Essex Kamren Robinson gave the Gladiators trouble at times but not nearly enough to cause concern due to the point differential. Coach Shane Allen will have to make the right formula if he plans on taking stretching the defense out enough to move the ball consistently.
Riverheads does an excellent job creating turnovers and capitalizing off them and sometimes instantly. Cook-Cash literally took the ball from a ball carrier last week changing the moment and the game! The Maroon Tide doesn't usually have many turnovers and in fact they had none last week. It will take that type of ball security and mistake free football to have a chance against the defending champions.
MATCH UPS TO WATCH FOR:
Riley Jo Vaught of Galax versus Cayden Cook-Cash of Riverheads will be in the spotlight whenever Riverheads has the football. Look for Vaught to try to make it tough for the sophomore running back. If he can't then it will be a long evening for the Maroon Tide.
Landon Lightner of Riverheads versus Ian Ashworth could become a very big deal if Galax can slow the Gladiators offense enough to make it interesting. Lightner has excellent hands and great speed and really doesn't get called on enough but when he does it's usually for 6!
KEYS TO THE GAME
RIVERHEADS
- Establish the run early with Luke Bryant, Cole Burton, and Aiden Miller...by having success with these young men will ease the attention off Cook-Cash
- Take away Ashworth's run threat. Force Tucker and Reeves to head the rushing attack and if they can't deliver then the Gladiators offense will be on the field often.
- Throw when you want to throw and not when everyone is expecting it. Having Bennett Dunlap connect deep off play action will change how the Gladiators attack.
GALAX
- Make 3rd and short a priority. 3rd and long won't be your friend in this one and the more first downs made, the longer the Maroon Tide can stay in the game.
- Give Ashworth lanes and time to be great. If Ashworth gets enough time to connect with Cox or Ayden White to keep the clock running and move down the field.
- Slow down the Big Red Machine. The running game must slow down tremendously in order for Galax to have a shot past the first quarter.
Cole Burton is used to the endzone in Salem. Expect him to reunite with it Saturday.
BOTTOMLINE:
Galax will definitely be in this one early riding the wave of the crowd's enthusiasm and praises. Unfortunately, depth and size will be the advantage that will eventually come for the Maroon Tide. They have to own the time of possession battle and make enough 4th down stops to put any type of fear in Coach Robert Casto's heart. I don't believe they can do both, yet alone any one thing for long.
PREDICTION: Riverheads 44 Galax 14
6th on deck. It will take a perfect game to turn back what was predicted in August.
