I won't be able to provide my usual in-depth analysis because: a) we were all sidetracked for the first quarter trying to keep up with the Tech/UVa game; b) then there was the East Rock game; and c) when it is that cold, who can think or concentrate???????
I finally left with about 3 minutes left but I see I did not miss any scoring. Anyway, as related above, RHS led 49-0 after three quarters and WC scored a pair of touchdowns against the reserves in the fourth to avoid the shutout.
Riverheads experimented a "little" with the passing game tonight, but for the most part it was a three-pronged running attack from Devin Morris, Zac Smiley and Jaden Phillips. I believe each one of them exceeded 100 yards but don't quote me on that. Morris opened things up with a pair of first quarter TDs, the first one coming on a sweep right from about 50 yards out in which he simply outraced everyone once he got to the corner. His second TD was set up by a nice quarterback keeper by Justin McWhorter.
Phillips scored twice in the second quarter and Smiley once. Phillips' scores came from in close but Smiley's was a nice broken field run in which he first swept left then cut back across the grain to score from about 40 yards out.
Phillips scored his third TD, a longer one this time in the third, but the Gladiators' play of the night was an incredible pick-six by Drew Bond on the Generals' first series of the second half. WC appeared to be driving for its first score of the night and threw a pass into the left flat near the goal line. Bond used his 6'3" frame to go up with the receiver and snatched it away.
As he started up field, there was no reason to assume he would get any farther than maybe the 30 or 40. But he skirted along the far sidelines, kept picking up blocks and took it to the house. The PA announcer first gave him 100 yards on the score but officially it was closer to 95.
If there was a flaw in Riverheads' game tonight it would be an occasional lack of focus. They committed a few too many penalties and fumbled the ball away either two or three times, but of course the weather could have been the culprit in those cases. The coaches will no doubt want them to get that sort of thing out of their system for next week and hopefully the week beyond.
The Gladiators will now host for the first-time ever, a state semi-final game, as the Essex/Northumberland winner will make the long trip to Greenville next Saturday. Of course considering how well the Big Red has fared in its past seven state semis on the road, winning six of them against six different teams, they might not mind traveling again this year, but then again the home-only folks deserve to see the team in action at that level as well.
