Well I did manage to hit all three games. First of all, the Gladiator JVs continue to impress as they rolled all over East Rock 40-6. I give the RHS coaching staff major credit for this win for one very simple, yet apparently brilliant coaching move.
The Eagles took the opening kickoff and quickly moved the ball into Riverheads territory in about 3 or 4 plays as they seemed ready to punch it in for the first score of the game. But when they reached about the 35 yard line, Coach Wassick called a time out and from that moment on, the game was ALL Riverheads.
They stopped that drive cold and forced an Eagle punt, which RHS fielded at around its own 17. In two plays, yes TWO, the Gladiators were in the end zone, courtesy of a long pass-and-run (mostly run) from Bennett Dunlap to Landon Lightner. That play, helped along by a face mask penalty, put the Big Red on the six and they ran it in from there.
They added three more scores in the first half and one more in the third quarter, converted all five two-point PATs, and only allowed one meaningless Eagle touchdown late in the game. East Rock's biggest problem seemed to be in the kicking game. They could not field a kick cleanly to save their lives, which constantly put them in terrible starting field position, and their punter had a couple of pretty bad ones.
The Gladiators are now 4-0 on the season and will travel to Buffalo Gap next Wednesday, providing the effects of the hurricane have subsided by then. Recent JV games between those two have been barn burners.
I did then stop briefly by the other two games. When I got to Wilson, it was 21-6 with maybe 6 minutes to go. I see that the Indians pulled that one out by a 21-14 count.
I then got to SD midway through the third quarter and the score was 8-7 in favor of Page. Shortly after that, the Panthers scored their second TD to move ahead 14-7. Despite the close score, I left and as it turned out, that was the final.
So even though I did not officially predict either of those wins by the visiting teams, I am not surprised by either. You gotta love it when struggling teams can finally turn the corner, as those two appear ready to do. Not sure who either one has next week, but you can bet they will each be sky high.
