Riverheads bounced back from Monday's close loss to Buffalo Gap and ended the season on a successful note tonight with a decisive win over the Cougar Cubs. With the victory, RHS finishes 7-2 on the season, with one game canceled due to weather.
Most of the scoring was packed into an explosive second quarter when the Big Red scored three TDs and the Cougars one. In the first two minutes of the quarter, the teams combined for three touchdowns in less than 90 seconds of clock time.
Small but hard-charging running back Devin Morris was the man of the night for Riverheads as he tallied the first three TDs. He seemed especially determined and hard to bring down and broke tackles all night long.
After his second score put Riverheads ahead 14-0 on the first play of the second quarter, the Cougars struck immediately on a long touchdown bomb to close to within 14-8, only to see RHS get a long kick-off return and quickly score again to regain their two-score margin. The visitors scored once more just before the half to lead 27-8.
Following a scoreless third quarter, each team tallied once in the fourth to account for the final score. Riverheads was driving as the game ended with the ball inside the Cougar five-yard line.
As mentioned, the key to the Gladiator win was their relentless running game, which also featured strong effort from Jalen Phillips, Tyler Smith, and Braeson Fulton. RHS seldom attempted a pass and if they punted all night, I don't remember it.
Stuarts Draft definitely seemed to have some speed on the offensive side of the ball, and utilized an array of trick plays, such as fake or actual reverses on kick-offs. But they were hampered by a couple of early fumbles, which led directly to the first two Gladiator TDs, and penalties also hurt the Cougar cause at all the wrong times. Also I found it odd that the touchdown toss was one of the prettiest passes I had seen all season and the kid definitely had an arm, yet they simply never went back to the air, despite how well it worked on that play.
Later in the evening, Gladiator fans got more good news as word came in that the Lady Gladiators had captured the Conference 44 volleyball crown with a 3-1 road victory down in Altavista. They will now move into Group 1-A East Regional play next week.
Most of the scoring was packed into an explosive second quarter when the Big Red scored three TDs and the Cougars one. In the first two minutes of the quarter, the teams combined for three touchdowns in less than 90 seconds of clock time.
Small but hard-charging running back Devin Morris was the man of the night for Riverheads as he tallied the first three TDs. He seemed especially determined and hard to bring down and broke tackles all night long.
After his second score put Riverheads ahead 14-0 on the first play of the second quarter, the Cougars struck immediately on a long touchdown bomb to close to within 14-8, only to see RHS get a long kick-off return and quickly score again to regain their two-score margin. The visitors scored once more just before the half to lead 27-8.
Following a scoreless third quarter, each team tallied once in the fourth to account for the final score. Riverheads was driving as the game ended with the ball inside the Cougar five-yard line.
As mentioned, the key to the Gladiator win was their relentless running game, which also featured strong effort from Jalen Phillips, Tyler Smith, and Braeson Fulton. RHS seldom attempted a pass and if they punted all night, I don't remember it.
Stuarts Draft definitely seemed to have some speed on the offensive side of the ball, and utilized an array of trick plays, such as fake or actual reverses on kick-offs. But they were hampered by a couple of early fumbles, which led directly to the first two Gladiator TDs, and penalties also hurt the Cougar cause at all the wrong times. Also I found it odd that the touchdown toss was one of the prettiest passes I had seen all season and the kid definitely had an arm, yet they simply never went back to the air, despite how well it worked on that play.
Later in the evening, Gladiator fans got more good news as word came in that the Lady Gladiators had captured the Conference 44 volleyball crown with a 3-1 road victory down in Altavista. They will now move into Group 1-A East Regional play next week.
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