Game Recap Gladiators Cash in Plenty to Set Up Class 1 Departure Regional Final

[TheSel2]

GREENVILLE- Riverheads had earned a bye in the 1st round of the Class 1 Region B playoffs and they would come out a bit rusty to start the game defensively. Sussex Central would come out running the football and possessing the ball 9:39 for their opening drive. Adrean Dubique would finish the drive going in from 7 yards out to give Sussex Central a 6-0 lead. The Tigers looked to have a great game plan to keep the Gladiator offense off the field.

Cayden Cook-Cash would show why keeping the high powered offense off the field was critical as he would score on a drive from 9 yards out that only took 2:26. Zachary Brooks' extra point would make it 7-6 Gladiators.

The Tigers looked to continue their game plan but a high snap derailed the drive and then they turned the ball over on downs. Riverheads wouldn't score so easily this time but Luke Bryant would power in doing the honors to make it 14-6 Gladiators with 4:20 left before halftime.

Sussex would temporarily abandon the attack they started the game with and would go into a formation that didn't take time off the clock or move the football. 2 series in that formation left enough time for Riverheads to get the ball a 2nd time after their last score as Bennett Dunlap would find Caleb Weston for a 35 yard touchdown pass. The extra point would be no good and RIverheads led at the half 20-6.

Riverheads got the ball to start the 2nd half and after getting 1 first down the Tigers defense would rise to the occasion and force Riverheads to punt. The Tigers however could not get going on the very important drive that could have cut the lead to one score. Instead they would have to punt but a high snap would give Riverheads the ball at the Sussex 17. 2 plays later Bryant would go in from 15 yards out to make it Riverheads 27 Sussex Central 6 with 7:27 left in the 3rd.

After another stalled drive, Sussex would give Riverheads the short field again and Cody Cash would score from 12 yards out to make it 33-6 with 2:03 in the 3rd.

Sussex Central would try to rally a little too late as Anthony Cropper ended a tough drive with a 2 yard touchdown run to make it 33-12 with 7:24 left. Edward Birchett would score after Sussex defense forced a fumble. Birchett would get the 2-point conversion to make it 33-20 with 4:34 to play.

Riverheads would end the suspense by recovering the onside kick and then handing it off to Cook-Cash who would go 50 yards for the touchdown to make it 40-20. Cook- Cash added another late with just over a minute to play as Riverheads gets the win, 47-20.

Riverheads (10-1) will host Central Lunenburg (11-0) in the Class 1 Region B championship. Both teams will move up to Class 2 next season.

Sussex Central (7-5) ends an improved season and could be a favorite to compete for a title next season returning a solid squad.


SUSSEX CENTRAL 6 0 0 14 - 20
RIVERHEADS 0 20 13 14 - 47

SC- Dublque 7 yard run (run failed)
R- Cook-Cash 9 yard run (Brooks kick)
R- Bryant 2 yard run (Brooks kick)
R- Weston 35 yard pass from Dunlap (kick failed)
R- Bryant 15 yard run (Brooks kick)
R- Cash 12 yard run (kick failed)
SC- Cropper 2 yard run (run failed)
SC- Birchett 1 yard run (Birchett run)
R- Cook-Cash 50 yard run (Brooks kick)
R- Cook-Cash 6 yard run (Brooks kick)

 

[longtimerhsfan]

Since I had to watch my UVa V-I-C-T-O-R-Y when I got home and since others have already pretty much recapped the game, I will keep my comments briefer than usual tonight.

Yes, Riverheads was a bit rusty and yes the weather could have played a factor, but there is no denying that Sussex came to play and for such a young team (NO seniors according to the roster in the program) they gave an excellent account of themselves. This was a one-score game in the final minute of the first half and was still a two score game with under five minutes left in the game.

Sussex gambled on some 4th downs that other teams would not have and they had some issues with the play clock (especially in the second quarter), some lining up offside issues, and then had a couple of bad snaps in the third quarter. As a result of those miscues, they gave RHS a short field all night long. That made it appear as if the Gladiators were scoring at will, when in reality Sussex defended the Big Red a lot better than most other teams this season. I seriously doubt that Riverheads had its usual 300-400 yard rushing night in this one.

As the scoring summary above indicates, CCC scored three times and Bryant twice, but neither had the breakaway game we were accustomed to seeing from them, again a testament to the Tiger defense. Fullback Cody Cash scored the remaining rushing touchdown for Riverheads.

But by far the most satisfying play of the night for Gladiator fans had to be the TD pass to Weston just before halftime. For those who don't know, he is a transfer student from Australia, and in the last game (a 35-13 victory over Stuarts Draft) he pulled off what we assumed would be his highlight-reel play of the season......an 84 yard kick-off return that put the Big Red in scoring position.

He may not have scored that night and in fact tonight's catch was only his second of the season that I recall, and his first career touchdown, but it was a thing of beauty. He had to extend himself as far as possible to reach the ball and then had to lunge through the air to reach the end zone. Definitely one of the best plays of the season for the Big Red.

By the way, one correction on the above summary. The final two PATs were kicked by Pablo Chavez, who also doubles as the Big Red's kickoff specialist. I am not sure if he was brought in for those kicks just to gain more experience or if the coaching staff may have felt that the usual kicker (Brooks) was having trouble adjusting to the wind. Whatever the case, having two quality kickers is better than having one or none.

So again a nice effort by the Tigers and as they mature as a team, they will cut down on some of those timing and procedural errors, and I will not be surprised if they are a state title contender within the next year or two.

As for Riverheads, if they are to win their seventh state title in a row, they may have to beat two undefeated teams to do it (Lunenburg followed by Essex) not to mention whomever would come out of Region C or D in the finale. But first things first, which will be the Lunenburg game next week.

Notice I said "next week" and not necessarily next Friday because last I heard, the weather is going to be nasty next Friday, so we will have to keep a watch on that.

Last but not least "Go Hoos" in many different ways over the next few weeks!

 

[Kenneth Harris]

Really enjoyed watching Riverheads last night. Their running back was running through tackles. Great team.