Though it was not anyone's fault, tonight's Homecoming game lost its entertainment value almost before it started and some of the crowd was bored to death by the midway point of the first quarter. But a win is a win and RHS will take it and move on to Wilson next week.
To give you the highlights of how out of control this one got, the referees made an executive decision, which they apparently had the discretion to do, and implemented the running clock with 9 minutes to go in the second quarter instead of waiting until the second half. There was a reason for that decision which I will get to in a minute.
Then, with Riverheads leading 56-0 with 8 minutes to go in the third quarter, the Big Red had to get really creative in terms of finding ways to AVOID scoring so that they would not further embarrass the Generals. So in the second half, we saw a successful field goal kick on second down for the final RHS points of the game, we saw a 47-yard field goal attempt on first down, we saw at least 3 or 4 deliberate delay of game calls, we saw a 40 yard run by a sub in which he was conveniently tackled at the one yard line, and finally the game ended with three straight kneeldowns just inches from a potential touchdown.
The reason why the game was so boring, in addition to its lopsidedness, was the fact that the referees got caught in traffic and the game finally kicked off at 7:45 instead of the usual 7:00. By the time it started, the crowd was already thinking about how fast we could make it through and go home, even if it WAS Homecoming. As if the delay was not bad enough, the first quarter dragged along at a snail's pace and took 45 minutes to play. Those factors no doubt figured into the decision to wind the clock.
As for the Gladiator scoring, Jackson Shover could have possibly set a school record, although it might be a hard one to research, as he scored two touchdowns in the first two minutes, each one about a 12 yard sweep around right end. His first one came on the Gladiators' second or third play of the game and when Stonewall coughed it up on a fumble on its first play from scrimmage, Shover took it in again to make it 14-0 with still over 10 minutes on the clock.
From there the touchdown parade continued fast and furious, with Moose Lee (who showed speed tonight we didn't know he had) and Dalton Jordan scoring twice each; last week's hero Devin Morris added a 55 yard punt return, and quarterback Tyler Smith rambled 71 yards on a quarterback keeper play that is usually only designed to get a first down. Needless to say, the Generals had no answer for any facet of Riverheads' rushing attack and even the second and third stringers, as hinted above, ran at will.
On defense, the Big Red intercepted the Generals three times, in addition to the aforementioned fumble, and late in the second quarter kept the visitors out of the end zone after a nice 40 yard run by Logen Patton set them up inside the 10. That goal line stand, which ended inside the 1, sent the teams to the locker room with RHS ahead 49-0.
Riverheads then scored early in the third on a 32 yard gallop up the middle by Jordan, and soon after connected on the sportsmanlike field goal to round out their scoring for the evening, even though there were still almost 20 minutes left in the game. A final score in the 80s or more would easily have been possible but the Gladiators just wanted to end this one ASAP and keep everyone healthy for the stretch run.
The Generals avoided the shut-out on a nicely-executed 65 yard pass over the middle to William McCourt, who then changed shoes and booted the PAT. That touchdown actually generated more applause out of the Riverheads fans than some of their own scores did, but it was sincere appreciation for the way the Generals kept playing hard, as opposed to anything sarcastic.
So the Big Red moves to 5-0 and they begin the second half of the season at Wilson next week before entertaining Luray the following Friday in what "could be" a battle of unbeatens. While the Gladiators are at The Hive next week, all cell phones and PA announcers will be paying very close attention to the Lee at Luray game, where those two undefeated teams will be meeting for the first time ever.
If the Bulldogs come out on top in that one, that next game in Greenville will generate almost as much hype as last year's regular-season finale at Stuarts Draft. Even if the Leemen take down Luray first, you won't want to miss the action when the Bulldogs come into the Coliseum for some Friday the 13th fun.
To give you the highlights of how out of control this one got, the referees made an executive decision, which they apparently had the discretion to do, and implemented the running clock with 9 minutes to go in the second quarter instead of waiting until the second half. There was a reason for that decision which I will get to in a minute.
Then, with Riverheads leading 56-0 with 8 minutes to go in the third quarter, the Big Red had to get really creative in terms of finding ways to AVOID scoring so that they would not further embarrass the Generals. So in the second half, we saw a successful field goal kick on second down for the final RHS points of the game, we saw a 47-yard field goal attempt on first down, we saw at least 3 or 4 deliberate delay of game calls, we saw a 40 yard run by a sub in which he was conveniently tackled at the one yard line, and finally the game ended with three straight kneeldowns just inches from a potential touchdown.
The reason why the game was so boring, in addition to its lopsidedness, was the fact that the referees got caught in traffic and the game finally kicked off at 7:45 instead of the usual 7:00. By the time it started, the crowd was already thinking about how fast we could make it through and go home, even if it WAS Homecoming. As if the delay was not bad enough, the first quarter dragged along at a snail's pace and took 45 minutes to play. Those factors no doubt figured into the decision to wind the clock.
As for the Gladiator scoring, Jackson Shover could have possibly set a school record, although it might be a hard one to research, as he scored two touchdowns in the first two minutes, each one about a 12 yard sweep around right end. His first one came on the Gladiators' second or third play of the game and when Stonewall coughed it up on a fumble on its first play from scrimmage, Shover took it in again to make it 14-0 with still over 10 minutes on the clock.
From there the touchdown parade continued fast and furious, with Moose Lee (who showed speed tonight we didn't know he had) and Dalton Jordan scoring twice each; last week's hero Devin Morris added a 55 yard punt return, and quarterback Tyler Smith rambled 71 yards on a quarterback keeper play that is usually only designed to get a first down. Needless to say, the Generals had no answer for any facet of Riverheads' rushing attack and even the second and third stringers, as hinted above, ran at will.
On defense, the Big Red intercepted the Generals three times, in addition to the aforementioned fumble, and late in the second quarter kept the visitors out of the end zone after a nice 40 yard run by Logen Patton set them up inside the 10. That goal line stand, which ended inside the 1, sent the teams to the locker room with RHS ahead 49-0.
Riverheads then scored early in the third on a 32 yard gallop up the middle by Jordan, and soon after connected on the sportsmanlike field goal to round out their scoring for the evening, even though there were still almost 20 minutes left in the game. A final score in the 80s or more would easily have been possible but the Gladiators just wanted to end this one ASAP and keep everyone healthy for the stretch run.
The Generals avoided the shut-out on a nicely-executed 65 yard pass over the middle to William McCourt, who then changed shoes and booted the PAT. That touchdown actually generated more applause out of the Riverheads fans than some of their own scores did, but it was sincere appreciation for the way the Generals kept playing hard, as opposed to anything sarcastic.
So the Big Red moves to 5-0 and they begin the second half of the season at Wilson next week before entertaining Luray the following Friday in what "could be" a battle of unbeatens. While the Gladiators are at The Hive next week, all cell phones and PA announcers will be paying very close attention to the Lee at Luray game, where those two undefeated teams will be meeting for the first time ever.
If the Bulldogs come out on top in that one, that next game in Greenville will generate almost as much hype as last year's regular-season finale at Stuarts Draft. Even if the Leemen take down Luray first, you won't want to miss the action when the Bulldogs come into the Coliseum for some Friday the 13th fun.
