After their disappointing loss to Buffalo Gap last week, the Riverheads JVs needed something positive to get back on track tonight and they most certainly got it as 8th grader Brody Phillips accounted for around 200 yards just in the first quarter as the Big Red jumped on visiting Wilson early and walked off with a 34-14 victory.
Now take a moment to digest that statistic and pay close attention to the quotation marks above as I explain what really happened. You see the young fellow did not "rush" for that kind of yardage from scrimmage plays but instead he returned two kickoffs and one punt deep into Wilson territory, all in the first quarter, and in each case his effort led directly to a Riverheads touchdown. So that 200 yards (give or take) did not count in the Gladiators' total offense figures but something tells me that nobody cared about that.
For his first trick, he took the opening kickoff, cut to his left and streaked down the far sideline, and would have scored if not for the turf monster tripping him up. Seriously there was no one around and he was not going to get caught but that extra blade of grass did him in. But he had put the Big Red inside the 10 yard line with his return and they scored just two plays later to take an 8-0 lead.
The Big Red defense then forced a punt on Wilson's first possession, and when Phillips received the kick, it appeared as if Wilson had a guy right in his face to make the tackle. But he somehow eluded that guy and a couple more and then cut to his right and took it to the house to complete about a 70 yard play to put RHS ahead 14-0.
Wilson then scored from about 45 yards out on its next possession to cut the deficit to 14-6, but on the ensuing kick-off, Mr. Phillips was at it again, and returned the kick down into the red zone as the first quarter came to an end. The Big Red scored soon after and took a 22-6 lead into the locker room.
Wilson then had a punt return of its own go the distance in the third quarter to cut the score to 22-14 and make things momentarily interesting. But the Gladiators did not fold and salted the win away with two insurance TDs in the final period.
Although Phillips' three big returns had a huge impact on the game, when the Gladiators ran the ball from scrimmage, they displayed a much more balanced attack as at least three or four other backs carried the ball, taking the pressure off Phillips who had been as much as 80 % of the offense in some games this season.
So a nice win for the Big Red but if I understand the schedule correctly, it was their home finale, as they will be on the road for the rest of the season, starting with a trip to Fort Defiance next Wednesday night.
Now take a moment to digest that statistic and pay close attention to the quotation marks above as I explain what really happened. You see the young fellow did not "rush" for that kind of yardage from scrimmage plays but instead he returned two kickoffs and one punt deep into Wilson territory, all in the first quarter, and in each case his effort led directly to a Riverheads touchdown. So that 200 yards (give or take) did not count in the Gladiators' total offense figures but something tells me that nobody cared about that.
For his first trick, he took the opening kickoff, cut to his left and streaked down the far sideline, and would have scored if not for the turf monster tripping him up. Seriously there was no one around and he was not going to get caught but that extra blade of grass did him in. But he had put the Big Red inside the 10 yard line with his return and they scored just two plays later to take an 8-0 lead.
The Big Red defense then forced a punt on Wilson's first possession, and when Phillips received the kick, it appeared as if Wilson had a guy right in his face to make the tackle. But he somehow eluded that guy and a couple more and then cut to his right and took it to the house to complete about a 70 yard play to put RHS ahead 14-0.
Wilson then scored from about 45 yards out on its next possession to cut the deficit to 14-6, but on the ensuing kick-off, Mr. Phillips was at it again, and returned the kick down into the red zone as the first quarter came to an end. The Big Red scored soon after and took a 22-6 lead into the locker room.
Wilson then had a punt return of its own go the distance in the third quarter to cut the score to 22-14 and make things momentarily interesting. But the Gladiators did not fold and salted the win away with two insurance TDs in the final period.
Although Phillips' three big returns had a huge impact on the game, when the Gladiators ran the ball from scrimmage, they displayed a much more balanced attack as at least three or four other backs carried the ball, taking the pressure off Phillips who had been as much as 80 % of the offense in some games this season.
So a nice win for the Big Red but if I understand the schedule correctly, it was their home finale, as they will be on the road for the rest of the season, starting with a trip to Fort Defiance next Wednesday night.
