Riverheads took advantage of consistently-favorable field position to grind past the Hornets tonight despite failing to complete a pass. The Gladiators' average starting point was around their own 40, whereas Wilson did not even cross midfield until there was only 1:30 on the clock, and even that was helped along by a fumble from Riverheads' second string offense. So if anything, this one was more of a dominant victory than the score might sound.
Wilson started things off with a surprise onside kick in an attempt to catch the Big Red napping. The kicker put a perfect spin on the ball, it traveled just the right distance, and Riverheads even cooperated by not reacting quite as aggressively as the coaching staff might have liked. Nevertheless they covered the kick and the first touchdown drive started from just inside midfield.
Sticking entirely to the ground, the Gladiators needed only three minutes before Moose Lee took it in from about 7 yards out. Peyton Skillman, who has yet to miss a PAT this season, added the first of six on the night for an early 7-0 lead.
Wilson caught a break on the ensuing kickoff when they mishandled a pooch kick with a clear Riverheads recovery, but an apparent inadvertent whistle took the turnover away and the refs ordered a re-kick. The teams then traded punts and fumbles until Dalton Jordan scored the first of his three TDs to put RHS ahead 14-0 with only 12 seconds left in the opening quarter.
He added a second score in the second quarter along with one from quarterback Tyler Smith to stretch the margin to 28-0 at the break. The Gladiators then added two more TDs in the third quarter to start the running clock.
Although most of Riverheads' offense was of the old three yards/cloud of dust variety tonight, Jordan did excite the crowd on his final TD when he turned on the speed from his fullback position and took it about 62 yards. Devin Morris added the remaining Gladiator score on a 5-6 yard run. To give full credit to the deep RHS backfield, senior Jackson Shover also had some quality runs to help the cause.
With the subs running out the clock late in the game, RHS fumbled at the Wilson 47. The Hornets had about 2:30 to try and avoid the shutout but all they could manage was to advance about 5 yards into Gladiator territory, their only trip across midfield all night. So as impressive as the Gladiator offense was tonight, the defense may deserve the most credit for the win as they stifled anything and everything Wilson tried to do. I only recall about two or three Hornet first downs in the game.
Speaking of Riverheads' defense, Gladiator fans were without the services tonight of freshman phenom Zac Smiley, who has been doing double duty in the backfield and also at middle linebacker. I don't have all the details on the injury but word in the stands is that he will miss the brutal three-game stretch the Gladiators now face, with Luray coming to Greenville next Friday before the Big Red travels to Lee on the 20th and Central Woodstock on the 27th.
Needless to say, this upcoming week will have PLENTY of discussion about the Luray game. As I am sure most of you have heard, the Dogs jumped out to a 21-0 lead tonight and then held off a furious comeback from R E Lee to win that one 42-33.
Hopefully Hurricane Nate will come and go this week, bless us with some much needed rain, but leave us in time for any and all football fields to dry out by Friday.
Wilson started things off with a surprise onside kick in an attempt to catch the Big Red napping. The kicker put a perfect spin on the ball, it traveled just the right distance, and Riverheads even cooperated by not reacting quite as aggressively as the coaching staff might have liked. Nevertheless they covered the kick and the first touchdown drive started from just inside midfield.
Sticking entirely to the ground, the Gladiators needed only three minutes before Moose Lee took it in from about 7 yards out. Peyton Skillman, who has yet to miss a PAT this season, added the first of six on the night for an early 7-0 lead.
Wilson caught a break on the ensuing kickoff when they mishandled a pooch kick with a clear Riverheads recovery, but an apparent inadvertent whistle took the turnover away and the refs ordered a re-kick. The teams then traded punts and fumbles until Dalton Jordan scored the first of his three TDs to put RHS ahead 14-0 with only 12 seconds left in the opening quarter.
He added a second score in the second quarter along with one from quarterback Tyler Smith to stretch the margin to 28-0 at the break. The Gladiators then added two more TDs in the third quarter to start the running clock.
Although most of Riverheads' offense was of the old three yards/cloud of dust variety tonight, Jordan did excite the crowd on his final TD when he turned on the speed from his fullback position and took it about 62 yards. Devin Morris added the remaining Gladiator score on a 5-6 yard run. To give full credit to the deep RHS backfield, senior Jackson Shover also had some quality runs to help the cause.
With the subs running out the clock late in the game, RHS fumbled at the Wilson 47. The Hornets had about 2:30 to try and avoid the shutout but all they could manage was to advance about 5 yards into Gladiator territory, their only trip across midfield all night. So as impressive as the Gladiator offense was tonight, the defense may deserve the most credit for the win as they stifled anything and everything Wilson tried to do. I only recall about two or three Hornet first downs in the game.
Speaking of Riverheads' defense, Gladiator fans were without the services tonight of freshman phenom Zac Smiley, who has been doing double duty in the backfield and also at middle linebacker. I don't have all the details on the injury but word in the stands is that he will miss the brutal three-game stretch the Gladiators now face, with Luray coming to Greenville next Friday before the Big Red travels to Lee on the 20th and Central Woodstock on the 27th.
Needless to say, this upcoming week will have PLENTY of discussion about the Luray game. As I am sure most of you have heard, the Dogs jumped out to a 21-0 lead tonight and then held off a furious comeback from R E Lee to win that one 42-33.
Hopefully Hurricane Nate will come and go this week, bless us with some much needed rain, but leave us in time for any and all football fields to dry out by Friday.
